3. HEALTH AND SAFETY HIGHLIGHTS

Causes of Illness and Death

The increased age-adjusted frequency of cancer in Tuolumne County residents relative to other Californians is explained by the racial distribution of the Tuolumne County population: The white population, with an elevated prevalence of cancer compared to other racial groups, is over represented compared to the California population in general. Compared to a racially equivalent population, Tuolumne County cancer incidence is similar to that of other Californians.¹

Suicide rates in Tuolumne County are approximately twice the average rates in other California counties. Victims of completed suicide tend to be young males, at a rate in California nearly three times that of females, reflecting the use of more lethal methods by young males. Enlightening is the fact that young female suicide attempts outnumber male attempts in California more than two to one.²

In the United States, health conditions that most commonly lead to disability include, in descending order, arthritis, back problems, heart disease, respiratory disease, deafness, limb stiffness, and mental/emotional problems.³ A Tuolumne County survey of health care providers indicates a pattern of illness reflecting these conditions, with a frequent concern that Tuolumne County residents do not maintain an ideal level of conditioning due to inactivity and poor diet.⁴ Chronic pain conditions are also recognized as a serious challenge to local caregivers, leading in some clinics to almost half of patients receiving medications for chronic pain. Emergency Response System

Tuolumne County Ambulance Service (TCAS) currently has three stations that are staffed 24 hours a day, located in Sonora, Soulsbyville, and Groveland. TCAS augments services with two flexible deployment ambulances that are available for 12 hours each day. An off-duty employee call back system can be used to increase the number of available ambulances when necessary. Petroleum Helicopters Inc., Air-Med Team currently has an Advanced Life Support (ALS) Air Ambulance located at Columbia Airport. Emergency requests for ambulance service are received and dispatched by the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Department 9-1-1 dispatch center. Cell phone 911 calls are received by the California Highway Patrol dispatch center.

The State of California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) recommends that emergency medical service areas (response zones) be designated so that 90 percent of Code 3 ("lights and siren") responses for ALS Ambulance shall be:

1. Metro/urban—8 minutes
2. Suburban/rural—20 minutes
3. Wilderness—as quickly as possible.

There are no recommended response time requirements for Code 2 (obeying all traffic laws) responses.

Nearly 10% of the 9-1-1 requests result in no patients being transported. Reasons for non-transport may include persons with no medical need, persons refusing treatment and/or transportation against the medical advice of the paramedics, patients who cannot be located, patients who left the scene, or deceased patients.⁵