Amy Sorensen

Community trends assignment

Hlth 100

Davis County

Talked with Cindy, Epidemiologist

1.     Cryptosporidium

This is something that is really affecting the health of Davis County right now. Because it is summer and a lot of people are outdoors and swimming the spread of this disease is very rapid. It is a intestinal disease that causes diarrhea and sickness.

2.     STD’s

I was shocked to hear that this was the number one disease affected the health of Davis County. Cindy said that a big problem is online dating and finding sexual partners over the internet. This will continue to be a big problem and health threat for Davis County. Educational classes and preventative methods need to be taken.

3.     Air quality

This is a big issue in Davis County because of the mountains. Summertime is not as bad of a time, there can still be poor air quality. The winter months are when air quality is the worst. This affects the health of the community because poor air can cause many health problems including asthma.

4.     Obesity/inactivity

Locally and globally this is a huge problem. Obesity is problematic because it increases the rate of CVD, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. The lack of activity could be a number one contributing factor to obesity itself. Time needs to be spent for physical activity every day for every adult.

5.     Aging population

           Because of the baby boomer generation there are a lot of elderly people in Davis County. This

           affects healthcare and insurances and there is a higher rate of chronic disease. This also affects  

           the health of caretakers (usually family) because of the added stress of managing another person 

           and taking care of them.

Amy Sorensen

Love Canal assignment

Hlth 100

            It was shocking to see the devastating effects of the love canal incident. The Hooker oil company was very irresponsible when they started to dump all of those hazardous wastes into love canal. As I learned more about it and learned about all of the health effects that it has caused to the residents of Love Canal, I realized that environment health is such an important field in our safety. All of those toxins were negatively affecting the children at schools and even in their homes. Mothers who were pregnant put their unborn babies at risk for birth defects unknowingly. It is a sad truth that all of those toxins are very detrimental for health and very harmful. I used to think that a lot of money was wasted on huge projects like the one put in effect to clean up the Love Canal site. It was just so much money that the government put forth where I thought could be used in different areas. However, after seeing the Love Canal tragedy and learning more about it I have changed my opinion. I think that money is well spent on environmental tragedies such as Love Canal. The government does that for the concern of the people and their health. It is sad that lessons had to be learned from this terrible tragedy, but hopefully it will continue to make a difference in the regulation of chemical waste.

            I was aware that environmental tragedies still happen today. When I was thinking about this topic many examples of oil spills came to my mind. There are so many that are a threat to wildlife and water quality and health. Recently there was an oil leak in a diesel pipeline of Chevron gas company near Willard Bay in Box Elder County.  Many measures have been taken to prevent any contamination to the surrounding water areas. However, diesel had already leaked into parts of the underground water and elevated oil levels were detected in Willard Bay itself. This leaking fuel is a big threat to surrounding wildlife and to users of Willard Bay. It has always been an attraction for fishing and water sports because it is relatively close to most residents of the Wasatch Front. Now when people go there to enjoy the lake, there is a toxic threat because of the diesel leak. Obviously, this is not as serious as the Love Canal tragedy and not at the same magnitude. I am aware though that these kinds of things happen a lot. It is comforting to know that there are individuals who are concerned when things like this happen and take a stance to change them.

Link to my article:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865577825/Groundwater-contamination-an-issue-at-Willard-Bay-spill-site-Chevron-to-be-cited.html

Love Canal

Dekker Smith

Public Health 100

Love Canal Essay

                Few events in Public Health are more vivid than what happened in Love Canal, New York years ago. There have been many lesson learned from this man made environmental disaster, and it has taught Americans how choices can have long lasting effects upon future generations. There are many areas in the U.S. that pose a potential threat. The Umatilla Chemical Depot in Hermiston Oregon poses potential problems. In years to come scientists will learn more of the effects of the Umatilla Chemical Depot. Disasters happen on a daily basis, but with correct preparation and prevention these can be mitigated. As I studied and searched for information, I came to the realization that indeed there are environmental disasters often in the world but moreover, I came to understand that the magnitude of these disasters has the potential to match or be even more intense than the Love Canal.

                The Umatilla Chemical Depot has been functioning since 1941 and on October 5^th, 2011 finished burning the chemical weapons stored there from the U.S. Government. This Chemical Depot is 1 of 8 in the U.S. and at one time housed 12% of the country’s chemical weapons. The 19,728-acre depot held 7.4 million pounds of lethal Cold War-era chemical weapons. The Umatilla Chemical Depot (UCD) even held chemical weapons never unleashed by the U.S. in war and that are not known to many countries, namely a chemical substance that could be sprayed like a pesticide over the battlefield. The UCD started the destruction of chemical weapons in 2004, which brought much protest from residence.

                These facts alone should be enough to rattle a persons’ sense of security. Although there have been no major outbreaks or problems in this area as of yet, it is still a threat to people in the area. The Love Canal tragedy caused tragic problems to unknowing people. There were no preventive measures taken to protect the people or to curb the problems that spawned from this event. When precautions are taken disasters can be diverted or limited. The sheer volume of the chemical weapons at UCD could have killed tens of millions of people. One non-chemical accident at UCD shattered glass 25 miles away and killed 6 people.

                The UCD suffered many leakages from these old weapons that were stored in the ground. Fines up to 1 million dollars have been issued for misconduct. Even now, when destruction of these weapons is complete there are irreversible effects of these leaks, and burning of these materials.  Tons of chemically contaminated land in sand pits called “wash out lagoons” are used to settle out 80 million gallons of “pink water” contaminated with high explosives. The U.S Government gave this area a permanent industrial status, not suitable for residential use. Some of the reasons for this are the wastewater byproducts contaminated with amounts of ammonia, nitrates and various pollutants.

                During the time of the destruction of these chemicals (VX nerve agent, mustard gas, chemical rockets, sarin) the government took many precautions to prevent problems among the public. Schools, hospitals, nursing homes and other buildings were retrofitted for pressurized ventilations systems to keep gas out. The UCD launched aggressive public education, called community meetings, held school presentations, and educated the public about how to stay safe in their homes. The army has spent over 42 million dollars in preventative measures around the area and close to a billion dollars for on-site preventative measures. Emergency sirens, electronic highway signs, and radios were placed in 18,000 households to protect the community. All this was overseen by The Oregon Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program.

                Due to the preventative measures followed there was no direct “environmental disaster”.  However tests are still being administered for air and water quality. People still worry about what effect 60 year old leaking chemical weapons will have on the environment and people over time. If water or air is found with chemicals in them, there would be brutal consequences. It was said of one agent held there, that one-tenth of a drop would kill a man in ten minutes. There was 3,700 tons of this agent held at one time. After investigating this event, I can see how this situation is a pressing matter today for us and our safety. Honestly I was not aware that such problems as the Love Canal or the UCD existed today. After reading and trying to understand the preventive measures followed at the UCD it was clear to me that people can mitigate these problems. By understanding that our choices affect people years in the future, we can prevent disasters like the Love Canal Tragedy or pending issues like the effects from the UCD.

Dekker Smith Community health Trends

Public Health Trends in Baker County Oregon

The rural community of Baker County, Oregon is an ideal place to live if you are looking for a scenic life style away from the busyness of the modern Metropolis.  This agricultural based community of around 15,000 people has been my home since birth.  The carefree community is known for its quiet atmosphere and seclusion from other “big city” problems.  As I consulted with Jon Schott, MD, Health Officer for the Baker County Health Clinic, and looked over data that had been collected for this county and the entire state of Oregon, a different conclusion might be seen.  Despite a more relaxing lifestyle, Baker County might not be the most problem free county in Oregon.  In fact, it currently ranks 33^rd in Oregon.  There were thirty-three counties examined, and three that information was not available for.  There are many trends that are pressing matters in Baker County, including but not limited to: premature death, hindrances to seeing a medical care provider, low birth weight, income/children in poverty, and college education.

Premature Death- This rate is almost staggering among the Oregon health statistics.  A graph on www.countyhealthrankingsandroadmaps.org shows that the Premature Death in Baker County is on the rise, as to the opposite overall for the state of Oregon and the United states as a whole. From 2005-2009 the Years of Potential Life Lost went up from 8,000 (age-adjusted YPLL per 100,000 People) to over 10,000 while in Oregon and the United States in general the YPLL went down by almost 2,000. Out of 261 deaths measured there was an estimated 10,322 YPLL Rate.  Due high rates of smoking, alcohol, low income, unemployment, lack of education and access to medical care, Baker County has a high YPLL. While conversing with Jon Schott he was able to inform me that in Baker County, “premature death especially is related to cancer related deaths and cardiovascular deaths that correspond to those issues.”

Hindrances to seeing a medical provider- There are many reasons for people not choosing or not being able to see a medical care professional. These may include expenses, lack of insurance, transportation, income, or even, lack of health care providers.  Jon Schott described Baker County in this way, “We are medically underserved, and recruiting providers here is really hard for multiple reasons so we have a federal and state designation that reflects that.  In fact we are one of just a few areas in the state designated as a 'frontier site' which reflects how underserved we are, as well as how geographically remote we are.” Baker County currently ranks 20^th out of 33 counties reported for accessibility to care and 23^rd for quality of care. Other contributing factors specific to Baker County include excessively high unemployment rates (+1% above Oregon’s Average of 9.5%), and children in poverty rates (33%). This Illustrates one of the pressing concerns in Baker County. Of the people surveyed 21% could not see the doctor due to the cost, that is 1 out of every 5 people, and we live in the country that single handedly spends the most money on medical care per year compared to all other nations.

Low birth weight- Baker County over the last few years according to the data has a very high percentage of low birth weight births. Even to the number of 8.6% of births are Low birth weight births.  This number is well above the Oregon average and when I asked Jon Schott to expound on the subject he explained that, “ The low birth weight babies is a little misleading in that we have a state drug treatment program for ladies, a fair percentage have babies while here and due to drug use naturally  have more complications.  Other than that there shouldn't be such a huge variance there.” Even with this state drug treatment program, the individuals still live in Baker Country and are accounted for in the statistics. Low birth weight, like all the other health trends in Baker County, is related to the others. Each has some type of affect upon the others, and therefore the causes of these concerns are commonly similar.

Income and poverty among children- This is a concerning Public Health matter in Baker County, the unemployment rate exceeds the Oregon Average but is not the highest in Oregon. Although Baker County ranks high in this area there are still areas with higher unemployment rates. The lack of income will affect all aspects of the person’s health. Medical care visitation, nutrition, exercise, quality of medical care, insurance, and mental health will all be affected due to low income. In Baker County with unemployment above average, this puts the average income at around $36,877. The Oregon average is $46,876. Another driving force to income and Poverty among children is high housing costs. Baker County ranks 31^st out of 33 counties surveyed for highest housing costs. 33% of children in Baker Country are raised in what is classified as a “poverty situation” due to low income and unemployment. I was interested in this rate and asked Dr. Schott if the data was correct or was it tainted in some way. He replied very simply, “I think the data is accurate and didn't surprise us much”. Indeed showing that this is not something new to him or the people of Baker County.

College Education- It is proven time and time again; health is increased in a population as the education is increased. Educated individuals know what is healthy, what practices are not, and how to better their own environment. In turn others will learn from them and a more health educated atmosphere will be established. The Average Freshmen Graduation Rate (AFGR) for Baker County is sitting at 61, well below the average for the State of Oregon (68).  When surveyed Baker County showed that 56.4% of people had some type of post-secondary education. This is in the bottom 10% of counties in Oregon, as the average for the State is 65.1%.

This quiet rural County in Oregon has its challenges and its own unique Public Health trends. Although the overall ranking of Baker County was last in Oregon, Baker County scored in the top five and many instances was scored best in Oregon in many categories including all aspects of physical environment.  Daily fine particulate matter, drinking water safety, access to recreational facilities, access to healthy foods, low number of fast food restaurants, and a low violent crime rate were a few of the areas that Baker County scored extremely well in.  Just as every area of the world, each faces unique challenges, Baker County is no exception. Premature death, hindrances to obtaining health care, low birth weight, income/children in poverty, and college education are pressing matters within Baker County. Dr. Schott ended by saying, “A big part of what this report reflects is that we have in general poor determinants in Baker County”. Although free of “big city” problems, it does not have the accessibility to all opportunities like more populated areas do in the State of Oregon.

Works Cited

·         Jon Schott, MD, Health Officer, (541) 523-1001,jschott@eoma.net.

·         Baker County Health Department (541) 523-8211, FAX (541) 523-8242 3330 Pocahontas Road, Baker City, OR 97814

·         http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/oregon/2013/baker/county/outcomes/overall/snapshot/by-rank

·         Microsoft Excel document, A collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Heath Institute

Health Trends Braydon Lapeyrouse

For my assignment, I chose to contact the county public health department of Forsyth county in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I called multiple departments and was eventually transferred Bob Whitwam. Unfortunately, I did not learn of his title. As I talked with Bob, he told me about some of the key concerns that the Forsyth County Public Health Department had. 

The first of which we spoke about, was infant mortality. Bob explained that recently the department had a meeting where they agreed that infant mortality was their top concern. They felt the rate was too high and were working on providing better care for newborns, young children and their mothers. This was also linked to immunizations. They hoped to have healthier infants in the future.

Education was also among their top concerns. Bob explained that they wanted to put more emphasis on quality education in public schools because poverty is becoming an ever growing issue. Without a quality education, the rising generations have dwindling chances of being able to achieve livable wages. There are many negative health related consequences for this including life expectancy, infant mortality, and over all wellness. Bob explained that through education, students would learn how much they needed to lead healthier lives and how education would help them achieve them. 

We also discussed mental health. In Forsyth County, they are seeing an over all decline in the quality of mental health. Poor mental health poses health risks for the individual with such. This is also closely related to emotional health. Those with poor mental and emotional health show less concern for their well being. Developing negative habits and in more extreme cases becoming a danger to their own lives.

Next was a focus I had not thought of before. Bob told me about how the county health department was very focused on the involvement of the faith based community in public health. He explained that the communities the county health departments are trying to protect are very diverse and don’t know too much about the department and their goals. However as more organizations in the faith based community begin to encourage better health practices and sponsor events, they can reach a greater number of individuals. Organizations with in the faith based communities also aid in the education of the people by promoting sound healthy habits and can provide funding for the county health department. 

Bob and I also discussed the health departments concern with political parties. Bob explained that the department is actively involved in woking together with local political parties. They wish to ensure that, as he put it, the health department “doesn’t get left out.” As the political parties legislate new policies, Bob explained  that the department wants to make sure that they don’t produce negative effects or health risks on the community. They also work to create policies that better promote better health.

I am really glad that I was able to speak to Bob. After trying for a bit I finally got a hold of a couple folks that would talk to me. I choose to use my conversation with Bob for my assignment because I liked how everything was relevant yet something you may or may not typically think about.