Pennsylvania Sleep Apnea Awareness Day and Sleep Awareness Week

Philadelphia, PA - March 15, 2001

State Rep. Dennis M. O'Brien (R-169), at the request of A.W.A.K.E. in Philly Sleep Apnea Education and Support Group, proudly sponsored H.R. 82 on March 12, 2001, along with 66 co-sponsors. The resolution designates March 26, 2001 as Pennsylvania Sleep Apnea Awareness Day and March 26 through April 1, 2001 as Pennsylvania Sleep Awareness Week.

The text of the resolution explains that untreated sleep apnea can lead to depression, high blood pressure, sexual dysfunction, as well as an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and automobile accidents. Sleepiness has also been identified as the cause of many on-the-job accidents.

Rep. O'Brien, in the resolution, recognized that statistics from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) reflect that 2,409 accidents and 22 fatal crashes occurred in Pennsylvania alone during 1998 that were attributable to drowsy drivers.

Based on other PennDOT statistics, Rep. O'Brien also recognized in the resolution that the 1997 economic impact losses due to traffic accidents was $987 to every man, woman, and child in the state.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly, A.W.A.K.E. in Philly, and other participants of Pennsylvania Sleep Apnea Awareness Day and Pennsylvania Sleep Awareness Week recognize that education is the foundation of civilized societies, and all are committed to education in businesses, government, and the public, creating an awareness of the severity of untreated and undiagnosed sleep disorders, including sleep apnea.

Education and awareness efforts are year-round activities, but concentrated efforts are made during this time.

The founder and coordinator of the A.W.A.K.E. in Philly group is Dave Jackson. Mr. Jackson was instrumental in working with the City of Philadelphia and the State of Pennsylvania to obtain the designations of Pennsylvania Sleep Apnea Awareness Day and Pennsylvania Sleep Awareness Week. When not busy with A.W.A.K.E. in Philly, you can also find Dave Jackson in the chat rooms at TalkAboutSleep.com, where he co-hosts the Wednesday late night general sleep chat, from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.

A.W.A.K.E. in Philly is one of more than 200 local support groups in the national A.W.A.K.E. Network, which is affiliated with the American Sleep Apnea Association, based in Washington, D.C. The A.W.A.K.E. groups are designed to offer support to anyone who must deal with the impact of sleep, including the patient, the spouse, a co-worker or supervisor, researchers, physicians, or attorneys, among others. Everyone is encouraged to attend the meetings.

A copy of the official proclamation official proclamation may be found on the state's Web server.