RESOLUTION
BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT COLLINS-BELLAMY, MAJORITY LEADER RUBBO, MAJORITY WHIP ROBINSON, MINORITY LEADER BREEN, COUNCILMEMBERS, PINEDA -ISAAC, DIAZ AND MERANTE:
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RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF YONKERS PROCLAIMING AND RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER AS "EPILEPSY AWARENESS MONTH" THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF YONKERS.
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WHEREAS, Epilepsy is a disease characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures and by the neurobiological, cognitive, psychological, and social consequences of this condition; and
WHEREAS, Epilepsy is a condition of the brain causing seizures. A seizure is a disruption of the electrical communication between neurons. A person is said to have epilepsy if he or she experiences two or more unprovoked seizures separated by at least 24 hours or if he or she experiences one seizure and is at a high risk of having more; and
WHEREAS, About 1 in 100 people in the United States has had a single, unprovoked seizure or has been diagnosed with epilepsy1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, there are 150,000 new cases of epilepsy in the United States each year. However, seizures may occur more frequently in certain age groups, including the very young and older people, in people of certain races, and in certain areas of the world; and
WHEREAS, an estimated over 3,000 Americans die each year from seizures and related causes, including sudden unexplained death in epilepsy; and
WHEREAS, it is important that people understand what a seizure looks like and what to do if they see someone having a seizure. The more familiar people are with epilepsy, the less people living with the condition have to fear discrimination, worry about receiving improper first aid, or keep their epilepsy hidden; and
WHEREAS, seizures impact people's lives in many ways, including creating barriers to employment and education facing a sense of discrimination and isolation from their peers; and
WHEREAS, Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological condition. More men than women have epilepsy, but by a small amount; and
WHEREAS, One-third of people living with epilepsy have seizures that cannot be controlled with current treatments, and all people living with epilepsy, have the risk of a potential "breakthrough" seizure; and
WHEREAS, The City of Yonkers is committed to the community to increase awareness and understanding of those living with epilepsy; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Yonkers City Council hereby proclaim the month of November 2024 as "Epilepsy Awareness Month" throughout the City of Yonkers.