HR0484 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0484 LRB103 34778 LAW 64628 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Blood clots can form throughout the human body, can lead to illness, disability, and even death if not treated early, and do not discriminate by age, gender, ethnicity, or race; and

WHEREAS, On average, blood clots cause the death of one person every six minutes; according to The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism, 2008, they cause the deaths of approximately 100,000 people every year; and

WHEREAS, As indicated by the public education campaign Stop the Clot, Spread the Word®, made possible through the partnership of the National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to 900,000 people are affected by blood clots every year; and

WHEREAS, Blood clots can be further defined as a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a pulmonary embolism (PE), with a DVT occurring if a blood clot forms in one of the large veins, typically in a person's lower leg, thigh, pelvis, or arm, and this type of blood clot can partly or completely block the flow of blood or blood circulation in the body; if a blood clot is left untreated, it can move or break off and travel to the lungs, causing a blockage known as a PE, which requires immediate medical attention; and

WHEREAS, It is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of a blood clot, with a DVT often presenting as swelling of the affected area, pain, tenderness, and redness or discoloration of the skin; by comparison, someone experiencing a PE often presents as having difficulty breathing, a faster than normal or irregular heartbeat, coughing up blood, and very low blood pressure, lightheadedness, or fainting; and

WHEREAS, Blood clots are preventable, and the best ways to prevent them include knowing your risks factors, recognizing the signs and symptoms, informing a medical professional if you have any risk factors, speaking with a medical professional about blood clots before any surgical procedure, and seeing a medical professional as soon as you possible if you develop any symptoms; and

WHEREAS, To better inform the public of the risks, signs, and symptoms of blood clots, the NBCA annually promotes March as Blood Clot Awareness Month; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare the month of March 2024 as Blood Clot Awareness Month in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Bleeding & Clotting Disorders Institute, the Deveraux Hubbard II Foundation, and the National Blood Clot Alliance with our sincere appreciation for their efforts.