Annotated Bibliography

1. Annotated Bibliography Advameg, Inc. (2011). Indian Trail, NC. Retrieved February 3, 2012, from http://www.city-data.com/city/Indian-Trail-North-Carolina.html#top This website contains a lot of useful information that was used during this project. It contains information regarding Indian Trail’s weather, economy, housing, schools, and so much more. For example, in the section of religion there is a pie chart that shows what religions are more prevalent in this area. Southern Baptism is the most prevalent, with the United Methodist Church coming next.

2. Annotated Bibliography Liu, S., Quenemoen, L., Malilay, J., Noji, E., Sinks, T., Mendlein, J. (1996). Assessment of a Severe-Weather Warning System and Disaster Preparedness, Calhoun County, Alabama, American Journal of Public Health, 86, 87-89. This article from the American Journal of Public Health evaluates the effectiveness of Sirens for Warning of Tornados in Calhoun County, Alabama. The study used community surveys of both populations that were hit by the tornado with a siren warning system and populations that were hit by the tornado without a siren warning system. The surveys were found that many factors played a role in disaster preparedness. The other factors included education and shelter-seeking behaviors. Having sirens in place did play a role in warning the population of the Tornados but education on what to do when the warnings are in place need to be apart of disaster preparedness of a community.

3. Annotated Bibliography Kim, J., Norton, E., & Stearns, S. (2009). Transportation brokerage services and medicaid beneficiaries' access to care. Health Services Research, 44(1), 145-161. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6773.2008.00907.x In this article, Kim, Norton, and Stearns, explored the effects of transportation and access to medical care. They found that the lack of reliable transportation could be a major barrier to timely health care. Some of the health effects that result from a lack of transportation includes: less use of preventative and primary care, and more use of the emergency department. The study found that reliability in transportation is of value to ensure that patients receive regular and preventative care. Another positive patient and societal outcome is the reduction in health care costs due to the decrease use of emergency services and more use primary preventative measures. These outcomes can be seen as a direct correlation of improvement in access to transportation.

4. Annotated Bibliography Poszywak, T. (2008). Tornado preparedness and public warning systems for the Frederick-Firestone fire protection district. National Fire Academy. Retrieved from: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/pdf/efop/efo41712.pdf In this article, Poszywak examines tornado preparedness activities and types of tornado warning systems that are available for use. The literature review addresses three questions. First, what tornado response planning and preparedness activities are being used by communities in the United States? Second, what types of public warning systems for tornado threats are being used in the United States? Third, what methods are being used to fund initial purchase and continued maintenance of tornado warning systems? Based on the literature review, Poszywak recommends that each community formulate a tornado preparedness plan in order to minimize the damage done to the community.

5. Annotated Bibliography Russ, S., Garro, N., & Halfon, N. (2010). Metting children’s basic health needs: From patchwork to tapestry. Children & Youth Services Review, 32(9), 1149-1164. doi:10.1016/j.chilfyouth.2010.03.007 A reduction in children’s basic needs has a major impact on their health.  Low income families result in poor health outcomes for children. Therefore children chronic illnesses are increasing and obesity continues to affect the younger generation. This also leads to increases in developmental, behavioral and mental problems. Unmet needs for children based on living standards have a significant effect on children and their adult life as well. They will have chronic illnesses and other health disparities. There needs to be a new approach to children’s health needs because it is the foundation for long-term well being. This article uses the Life Course Health Development Model that helps develop a framework of factors that consist of genetic, biologic, behavioral, social and economics determinants. Health status is based on multiple risk factors and exposure to these risks during the most crucial time in a child’s development can have great impact on their present and future health status.

6. Annotated Bibliography Suminski, R., Heinrich, K., Poston, W., Hyder, M., & Pyle, S. (2007). Characteristics of urban sidewalks/streets and objectively measured physical activity. The New York Academy of Medicine, 85(2), 178-190. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2430121/?tool=pubmed This article studied the relationship between environmental characteristics, such as sidewalks, and physical activity. It provided further evidence that environmental characteristics (sidewalks) and walking are related. It discussed how the obesity epidemic is partially the result of environmental transformations that have negatively impacted physical activity. The study concluded that residents of high-walkability neighborhoods tend to accumulate increased physical activity time and walk more for recreation and transport and are more likely to meet the physical activity recommendations and have lower obesity rates than residents of low-walkability neighborhoods. More sidewalks within a community can lead to more physical activity among individuals and therefore, lower rates of obesity.