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Show County Board Ponders Health Risk Program pressure testing to be included as well. In other business, the board agreed to further review inspection in-spection and maintenance proposals that could be implemented im-plemented for vehicle emission emis-sion testing at its June 2 meeting. BRYANT EVANSON, who is overseeing county involvement, involve-ment, said he is receiving "a little pressure" from federal Environmental Protection Agency officials for some decision deci-sion by county officials on how the program will be handled. Davis and Salt Lake counties coun-ties have been earmarked as having sufficient pollution levels to warrant a vehicle I&M program that would include in-clude either a de-centralized program similar to the vehicle inspection program where drivers would have vehicles tested at a garage of their choice or a centralized system with several testing facilities placed around the county. EPA IS expecting a decision by July 1 with implementation of a de-centralized program possibly taking affect Jan. I. but changes in Washington with President Reagan's arrival arriv-al could mean alterations although EPA is moving ahead under its original guidelines until notified. Mr. Evanson said. By TOM BUSSELBERG FARMINGTON Motivating Moti-vating people to less risky life styles is the aim of a program being studied by the Davis County Board of Health. IN A presentation to that body Tuesday morning, Health Director Enrico A. Leopardi said the program is aimed at "preventing chronic illness and injury by reducing environmental and occupational occupa-tional hazards." He said leading causes of death are primarily due to chronic diseases and injuries related to accidents, poisoning and violence. "NINE OUT of the ten leading lead-ing causes of death in the U.S. are due to non-infectious diseases dis-eases or conditions" including heart disease as number one, cancer, stroke, accidents and pneumonia. The program would include asking participants to fill out questionnaires asking such questions as weight, whether tobacco is used, alcohol use, drugs, seat belt use, physical activity, diabetes, blood pressure, press-ure, hours of sleep, life satisfaction satis-faction and family ties. ONLY PARTIAL social security numbers would be used to identify applicants for processing. Based on results, participants partici-pants would be referred to their physician for follow-up in coordination with the health department including education educa-tion programs aimed at reducing reduc-ing health risk. Such a class would include education to stop smoking, Dr. Leopardi explained. HE SAID pneumonia and influenza in-fluenza are the only infectious diseases listed as major causes of death but both are preventable prevent-able through vaccine, he said, indicating a new vaccine could be given for pneumonia prevention pre-vention especially to those aged 50 and above. Congress has endorsed its use by authorizing author-izing Medicare payment for its use. He said influenza vaccines are also "very good" and should be administered at one dose a year although it is sometimes some-times difficult for disease prevention pre-vention officials to determine absolute vaccine combinations combina-tions because of constantly changing influenza strains. "THE MAIN thing is the promotion of life-style changes from risk," Dr. Leopardi emphasized. "We think this has a good chance for impact such as inoculations against the basic seven diseases dis-eases (as required for children's chil-dren's immunizations)." The partnership between public and private health services ser-vices will be strengthened, as well he said, with possibilities to serve the general public and special groups such as private industry. Health Educator Allan Parker said two firms with about 2,500 employees have already indicated interest. in-terest. "THIS SEEMS to be an ineffective in-effective way (to work through industry)," said Stanley Green, board member. "A lot of our people aren't employed in Davis County. Is there some way to reach a broad spectrum?" spec-trum?" County Com. Ernest Eberhard said along those same lines that the county's population is organized into fairly tight social groups of clubs and churches. "DO WE KNOW that it makes a difference?" asked Jan Freeman, board member. And while Dr. Leopardi said "it hasn't been conclusively determined" he added, "it looks very promising" with education the key. EDUCATION COULD mean expanding a person's life by years if he follows certain patterns, said Harold Hansen, board member. "One life-style if changed can really impact smoking. You can't diagnose cancer of the lungs early enough there's no efficient way to detect de-tect it." Dr. Leopardi said, with Com. Eberhard observing observ-ing a "definite decrease" in smoking among adults. THE PROGRAM should be self-supporting. Dr. Leopardi said, indicating a fee will have to be set for service to finance salaries of any necessary staff. Questioning the program's value Mr. Green said, "I'm just kind of skeptical. It seems it would be more effective to have it (questionnaire) in the Reader's Digest where a person per-son can go through it." BUT DR. Leopardi noted that he and nurses will be involved in-volved in referring participants partici-pants to physicians for follo-wup follo-wup with such things as blood |
