Resolution 130860

..Title Recognizing November 2013 as Epilepsy Awareness Month in honor of individuals living with Epilepsy, their families and those working to improve their quality of life. ..Body WHEREAS, Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. It's also called a seizure disorder. When a person has two or more unprovoked seizures, they are considered to have epilepsy; and WHEREAS, A seizure happens when a brief, strong surge of electrical activity affects part or all of the brain. 1 in 10 adults will have a seizure sometime during their life; and WHEREAS, Epilepsy afflicts 65 million people around the world with 2 million afflicted in the United States; and WHEREAS, Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder. 1 in 26 Americans will develop Epilepsy at some point in their respective lifetimes and 300,000 children under the age of 15 are affected by the illness; and WHEREAS, Approximately 50,000 people die from Epilepsy-related causes in the U.S. each year; and WHEREAS, One third of those suffering from Epilepsy live with uncontrollable seizures due to a lack of treatment; and WHEREAS, The estimated annual cost of medical costs and lost or reduced earnings and production totals $15.5 billion; and WHEREAS, It is estimated that 25,350 Philadelphians and 109,000 individuals in Eastern Pennsylvania are living with Epilepsy; and WHEREAS, The Epilepsy Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation, was founded in 1972 under the name The Epilepsy Foundation of Philadelphia. The name was revised to reflect the organization's broader service area of Eastern Pennsylvania; and WHEREAS, Services offered by the Foundation - most of which are free - include month Adult Support Group meetings, young adult programs aimed to foster independence and socialization skills, a weeklong overnight camp for kids, teens, and young adults known as Camp Achieve and an annual Information and Education Conference; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That November 2013 be recognized as Epilepsy Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia. ..End