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2008 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 54
Commending the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia's Use a Helmet: Prevent Epilepsy program.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 11, 2008
Agreed to by the Senate, January 17, 2008

 

WHEREAS, the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia, Inc., is commended for its effective program, Use a Helmet: Prevent Epilepsy, which creates epilepsy awareness and teaches Virginia's school children about safety and the importance of wearing protective helmets; and

WHEREAS, the national Epilepsy Foundation is a non-profit organization solely dedicated to the welfare of the more than 3 million people with epilepsy in the United States and their families; and

WHEREAS, the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia, Inc., is one of the 53 Epilepsy Foundation affiliates around the country that work to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; to improve how people with epilepsy are perceived, accepted, and valued in society; and to promote research for a cure; and

WHEREAS, there are 70,000-80,000 persons with epilepsy in Virginia, and injuries to the head are the largest known cause of the disease; and

WHEREAS, statistics reveal that proper helmets can prevent up to 88 percent of serious injuries, and in 1998, an extensive study found that out of the 44.3 million young people under age 21 who bicycled in the United States, nearly one percent visited the emergency room because of a biking accident, and 23,000 of those children needed additional care after sustaining a traumatic brain injury, often resulting in epilepsy; and

WHEREAS, for 10 years, the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia, Inc., has sponsored the Use a Helmet: Prevent Epilepsy campaign, which raises awareness of epilepsy and provides fourth graders and their families with information on the correct use of protective helmets, brain injury prevention, and first aid techniques in the event of seizures; and

WHEREAS, elementary school students across Virginia are also given the opportunity to participate in a creative drawing contest depicting the use of protective helmets and child safety; and

WHEREAS, during the campaign, a student finalist is chosen each month for his or her winning picture, and all of the winners enjoyed a trip to the General Assembly in Richmond, a tour of the newly renovated capitol, and a meeting with First Lady Ann Holton in the Governor's mansion to present her with their wonderful drawings; and

WHEREAS, Kaytelyn Brown, aged 9, of Callaghan Elementary School in Covington, was the winner of the 10th Annual Epilepsy Foundation Use a Helmet: Prevent Epilepsy drawing contest for her crayon and marker picture of a  little girl wearing a helmet; and

WHEREAS, other monthly winners were KaTara Jones from T.C. Elementary School in Lynchburg; Cassadii Brenneman from Woodstock Elementary School and Bobbi Hill and Dalton Palmer from College Park Elementary School in Virginia Beach; Tessa Harnish, Bethany Hugo, and Xaveria Hawvermale from Greenbriar East Elementary School in Fairfax; Ashton Steadman and Marli Collier from Dryden Elementary in Dryden; Victoria Joo from Coventry Elementary School in Yorktown; and  Lauren Horn from Ottobine Elementary School in Dayton; and

WHEREAS, every year the Use a Helmet: Prevent Epilepsy program and drawing contest raises awareness of the importance of safety and wearing proper protective helmets and teaches school-aged children to always wear a helmet, and encourage others to do the same, when biking, rollerblading, and enjoying many other recreational activities; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia, Inc., and its outstanding Use a Helmet: Prevent Epilepsy program and its dedication to Virginia's young people; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia, Inc., as an expression of the General Assembly’s appreciation for its important mission to prevent epilepsy and aid persons with epilepsy in the Commonwealth.