Honoring American Heart Association, the University of Pennsylvania, and Private Individuals Such as Joe Waters, For Their Continuing Efforts At Training and Saving Lives With The Techniques Used In CPR; and Reaffirming June 18th 2009 as "Philadelphia CPR Training Day."

WHEREAS

, On May 13, 2009 at a political function, a judicial candidate collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest; and

WHEREAS

, Joe Waters, a private individual with CPR Training took immediate action to direct and administer CPR to the cardiac-arrest victim, who was unconscious; and

WHEREAS

, The cardiac-arrest victim received the life saving compressions that keep the oxygen flowing long enough for the Paramedics to arrive and administer the necessary medical treatment to resuscitate the cardiac-arrest victim without any permanent damage; and

WHEREAS

, Each year an estimated 166,000 lives are claimed by Sudden Cardiac Arrest; and

WHEREAS

, The Heart Association estimates that more than 95 percent of cardiac-arrest victims die before they get to the hospital; and

WHEREAS

, According to the Heart Association, about 75 percent to 80 percent of all cardiac arrests outside a hospital occur at home, and effective CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) can double or triple a victim's survival odds; and

WHEREAS

, Studies showed that the chance of survival for people who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest fell by 10 percent for every minute following the attack that CPR was not administered. After about four minutes, permanent brain damage begins to occur; and

WHEREAS

, In fact, more people die from sudden cardiac arrest than from breast cancer, prostate cancer, AIDS, house fires, handguns and traffic accidents combined; and

WHEREAS

, Since 1971, the City has trained 650,000 ordinary citizens - from taxi drivers to restaurant employees; and

WHEREAS

, The American Heart Association trains 10 million people in CPR annually, but we must do more. For victims of a sudden cardiac arrest, a bystander who performs immediate CPR and defibrillation with an AED could make a life or death difference; now therefore,

Be It Resolved, By The City Council Of Philadelphia,

That we hereby honor the American Heart Association, the University of Pennsylvania, and Private Individuals, such as Joe Waters, for their continuing efforts at training and saving lives with the techniques used in CPR; and Reaffirming June 18th 2009 as “Philadelphia CPR Training Day.”

FURTHER RESOLVED,

That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to American Heart Association, University of Pennsylvania, and Joe Waters as further evidencing the sincere admiration and gratitude of this legislative body.

End