WHEREAS, on behalf of the citizens of Idaho, I am pleased to join the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, in celebrating May 2007 as American Stroke Month in Idaho; and

        WHEREAS, the themes for American Stroke Month 2007 are “Young People and Stroke” to educate the public and policymakers about the devastating effects of stroke in people under age 30, and “Igniting the Power” to end stroke in African Americans, who are at particularly high risk of the disease, by empowering them to reduce their risk, recognize the warning signs, and respond quickly; and

        WHEREAS, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, killing about 150,000 Americans each year; and

        WHEREAS, stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability with more than 1.1 million American adults experiencing functional limitations or difficulty with activities of daily life resulting from a stroke; and

        WHEREAS, Americans are more aware of the risk factors and warning signs for stroke than in the past, but still less than one in five adults can correctly classify all stroke symptoms; and

        WHEREAS, warning signs of stroke include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; and sudden severe headache with no known cause; and

        WHEREAS, stroke leads to the death of more than 700 citizens of Idaho each year; and

        WHEREAS, new and effective treatments have been developed to treat and minimize the severity and damaging effects of strokes, but much more research is needed;

        NOW, THEREFORE, I, C.L. “BUTCH” OTTER, Governor of the State of Idaho do hereby proclaim May 2007 to be:

AMERICAN STROKE MONTH

in Idaho, and urge all the citizens of our state to familiarize themselves with the warning signs, symptoms and risk factors associated with stroke so that we might begin to reduce the devastating effects of stroke on our population.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this 22^nd day of March in the year of our Lord two-thousand and seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-first and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred seventeenth.       

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE