May 5 Designated as National Childhood Stroke Awareness Day
United States senators Robert Casey (D-PA) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) introduced a resolution that was passed unanimously last week in the senate to designate May 5, 2007 as National Childhood Stroke Awareness Day. The senate resolution also commended The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for its efforts in creating the country’s first pediatric stroke program.
While strokes are usually considered to be a condition occurring in older adults, children and teenagers are also at high risk for suffering from strokes. Roughly 26 out of every 100,000 newborns suffer from strokes each year. Of those who suffer from strokes during childhood, 12% of those die as a result.
May has already been designated as National Stroke Awareness Month, and designating May 5 as National Childhood Stoke Awareness Day will only continue to increase awareness of this condition and the need for continued support.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, in conjunction with the Delaware Valley Stroke Council, National Stroke Association and the American Stroke Association hopes this will assist in educating the public on the need to support the efforts, programs, services and advocacy of organizations that work to increase public awareness of childhood strokes.