WHEREAS, Stroke is a neurological emergency caused by sudden blockage of an artery in the brain or sudden bleeding in the brain that is both preventable and treatable; and

WHEREAS, Stroke is the leading cause of serious long-term disability and a leading cause of death in the United States, killing about 140,000 people nationwide and approximately 14,000 citizens of California each year; and

WHEREAS, The average large-artery stroke victim loses approximately 2,000,000 neurons per minute without emergency treatment; and

WHEREAS, The phrase Time Is Brain emphasizes the importance of calling 9-1-1 immediately when stroke symptoms are recognized because early treatment dramatically improves the chances of recovery; and

WHEREAS, One in three Americans cannot name any of the signs or symptoms of a stroke, and more than one-half of Americans do not know if they are at risk for a stroke; and

WHEREAS, The B.E.F.A.S.T. warning signs of stroke include the sudden onset of the following symptoms: Balance-loss of balance or coordination; Eyes-vision loss or double vision; Face-face drooping; Arm-arm weakness; Speech-speech difficulty; and Time-time to call 9-1-1; and beyond B.E.F.A.S.T., additional stroke warning signs and symptoms include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion; sudden trouble speaking or difficulty understanding; sudden trouble walking; sudden dizziness; and sudden severe headache with no known cause; and

WHEREAS, Between 2019 and 2020, strokes cost the nation over $56 billion, including the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 120,000,000 Americans have high blood pressure, which is a major controllable risk factor for stroke, including 56 percent of black adults, among the highest prevalence of any population in the world; and

WHEREAS, The American Heart Association urges people to lower their risk of heart disease and stroke by focusing on Lifes Simple 7 key health factors and behaviors: managing blood pressure, controlling cholesterol, reducing blood sugar, getting active, eating better, losing weight, and stopping smoking; and

WHEREAS, New and effective treatments have been developed to treat and minimize the severity and damaging effect of strokes, but much more research is needed; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature declares the month of May 2026 as National Stroke Awareness Month in California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature urges all Californians to familiarize themselves with the risk factors associated with stroke, to recognize the warning signs and symptoms of stroke, and, at the first signs of a stroke, to dial 9-1-1 immediately in order to begin to reduce the devastating effects of stroke on our population; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

SCR 156: National Stroke Awareness Month.

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