Injuries and emergency response in rural areas

Injuries and Emergency Response in Rural Areas

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Injuries on farms involving machinery and animals, emergencies in areas that are socially isolated, and deaths amongst populations where guns are commonly used for hunting spell a recipe for disaster for many medically underserved communities in rural America. According to the National AG Safety Database article "Rural emergency response: The safety and health safety net," nearly 40% of the rural population is deemed to live in what is described as a medically underserved area. While 1 in 5 Americans live in rural areas, only about 1 in 10 physicians practice in a rural location. 43 rural counties in the United States lack any physician at all.

Agricultural occupations have the highest accidental work death rate of any major occupational group. 38% of all machinery related deaths occur on a farm and rural residents are more likely to be self-employed and lack comprehensive health care coverage. Additionally, 60% of all motor vehicle deaths occur in rural areas.