American journal of public health
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The potential gains in total expectation of life and in the working life ages among the United States population are examined when the three leading causes of death are totally or partially eliminated. The impressive gains theoretically achieved by total elimination do not hold up under the more realistic assumption of partial elimination or reduction. ⋯ Even with a scientific break-through in combating these causes of death, it appears that future gains in life expectancies for the working ages will not be spectacular. The implication of the results in relation to the current debate on the national health care policy is noted.
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We have calculated the total fossil energy equivalent of the food calories saved by reducing the present degree of overweight (2.3 billion pounds for the adult United States population) to optimum body weight and the annual fossil energy reduction once all Americans reached their optimum weight. The energy saved by dieting to reach optimal weight is equivalent to 1.3 billion gallons of gasoline and the annual energy savings would more than supply the annual residential electrical demands of Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington, DC.
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The medical outcomes and demographic characteristics of all victims of fires identified by The Baltimore Fire Department during a 14-month period in Baltimore City were studied. Fifty-nine per cent of victims suffered minor injuries, 25 per cent required hospitalization and 16 per cent were fatalities. ⋯ Exposure to fires was more likely to result in deaths in the very young and very old. Evidence from autopsy protocols suggests that alcohol was a contributory factor.
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In an effort to improve the quality of health services within a large urban jail, former military medical corpsmen have been employed as an integral component of a jail health service. Medical corpsmen are responsible for the performance of intake medical evaluations, delivery of prescription medications, triage for physician sick call, and provision of elementary health services on the jail tiers. Utilization of medical corpsmen has been associated with improved rates of medication delivery as well as beneficial effects in relation to tuberculosis and venereal disease control, and a more appropriate utilization of physician services. Effective utilization of medical corpsmen requires cooperation from the correctional staff as well as consistent supervision and support by qualified physicians.