00Enrolled SCR 2                                                                                                          
01 Relating to establishing March 2007 as brain injury awareness month.                                                    
02                                         _______________                                                                 
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                             
04      WHEREAS traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of death and disability among                                  
05 children and young adults in the state; and                                                                             
06      WHEREAS approximately 800 people in the state report a traumatic brain injury each                               
07 year; and                                                                                                               
08      WHEREAS 20 percent of traumatic brain injuries result in death; and                                              
09      WHEREAS an estimated 12,000 people in the state have suffered a traumatic brain                                  
10 injury; and                                                                                                             
11      WHEREAS many people who suffer a traumatic brain injury live with permanent                                      
12 disabilities; and                                                                                                       
13      WHEREAS most cases of traumatic brain injury are preventable; and                                                
14      WHEREAS the lack of public awareness is so vast that traumatic brain injury is                                   
15 known in the disability community as the nation's "silent epidemic"; and                                                
16      WHEREAS the Brain Injury Association of America has recognized the month of                                      
17 March each year as Brain Injury Awareness Month;                                                                        

01      BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature                                                                 
02           (1)  recognizes the life-altering effect that traumatic brain injury may have on                              
03 people living with the resultant disabilities from traumatic brain injury and on their families;                        
04           (2)  recognizes the need for enhanced public awareness of traumatic brain                                     
05 injury;                                                                                                                 
06           (3)  supports the designation of March 2007 as Brain Injury Awareness Month;                                  
07 and                                                                                                                     
08           (4)  encourages the people of the state to observe Brain Injury Awareness                                     
09 Month with appropriate programs and activities.