For more information on this project, contact Doug Sims, Environmental Health Director, or David Morris, PACE-EH Coordinator, at the Okaloosa County Health Department.
Okaloosa County PACE EH
Project Status Report
February, 2005
Our survey results are completed and the first draft has
been reviewed by Dr. Chapman. She has made some suggestions that are
being completed this week-final report expected to be ready next week.
Some of the outcomes of the survey:
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EH now has representation on the county
transportation committee
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Survey concerns were high for water quality. EH has
partnered with University of West Florida to obtain grants for a
study as to why three of our bathing places have had continuous high
bacterial counts.
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EH has a presence on the county planning development
now. We are working with them on county ordinances on encroachment
for the airports, provision of green space and sidewalks in new
subdivisions affordable housing zoning designations and are working
with zoning to prepare a smart growth achievement application.
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The survey also showed that the black community did
not recognize diabetes as a health concern, although the prevalence
of the disease is far higher in this population in our county-this
is an opportunity to provide education. We also learned that the
younger population we surveyed (survey age at least 18 years) the
less they were likely to know about their cholesterol. This was an
important finding as obesity is an issue of reality among the
younger population in our county. Here again is an opportunity for
community education.
We also discovered that automobile accidents were of
high concern among those surveyed, matching the reality of increased
numbers of serious accidents in the county. We have located one
location, in Crestview, where a school crosswalk is via a major 4-lane
highway, and the cost to the police department for personnel to patrol
and provide crossing guards exceeds 60 man-hours per week. We are
partnering with the city police department and Crestview safety
committee to see funding for construction of a crossover.
June, 2004
September, 2004
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