FL S1194

Recognizes the founding of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Coalition of Florida and expresses appreciation for organizers' commitment to raising disease awareness

Identifies COPD as the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, affecting an estimated 1.8 million Floridians and 24 million persons nationwide

Notes that smoking accounts for up to 90 percent of COPD-related deaths, with other risk factors including environmental exposure, air pollution, secondhand smoke, and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Cites 2007 Florida health care costs of $1.3 billion related to COPD and more than 63,000 hospitalizations, with nationwide annual costs nearly $50 billion

Highlights the "DRIVE 4 COPD" campaign, the nation's largest COPD awareness and screening initiative, which has screened more than 2 million people since February 2010