Roughly 93 percent of Carroll County residents diagnosed with lung cancer died of the disease from 1998-2002.
This statistic is one of many included in Healthy Carroll Vital Signs compiled by The Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County Inc.
“Just like a doctor looks at vital signs to assess the health of a patient, we are looking at community health data points,” said Ann Walsh, manager of community health improvement for the nonprofit that works to improve health and quality of life in Carroll County.
Healthy Carroll Vital Signs grew out of what the organization refers to as 11 core health improvement areas, which address issues like access to health care, incidents of cancer and interpersonal violence, water supply and quality, and elder health.
The report was unveiled at the partnership?s Sixth Annual Community Health Forum on Wednesday at Martin?s Westminster, which brought together health professionals, service providers, county officials and residents to network and learn about community resources covering topics such as drinking and driving and lowering cholesterol levels.
The Vital Signs statistics were circulated so everyone can understand them, from families trying to trim the fat to law enforcement officials trying to keep the peace, Walsh said.
Each year, the report will be updated to see how the data changed,in an effort to make the county healthier through greater awareness.
The partnership hopes people will get involved, whether by changing their own habits or those of people they know, said Walsh.
The partnership has worked at creating a healthier community since its founding in 1999 by Carroll Hospital Center and the Carroll County Health Department, said Patricia Supik, executive director and CEO of the nonprofit.
For more information, visit The Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County Inc.?s Web site at www.healthycarroll.org.
Some vital signs
» Deaths from cardiovascular disease in Carroll County in 2005: 21.3 percent
» Deaths from stroke in Carroll County in 2005: 6.9 percent
» Carroll County 12th-graders who have smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days (2004): 22.7 percent
» Number of new acres put in land preservation in Carroll County in 2005: 2,289
Sources: Carroll County Health Department Epidemiologist, Maryland Adolescent Survey and Carroll County Department of Planning
