|
This information
is brought to you by the staff at Island County Public Health (ICPH) Camano Is.
Central Whidbey
So.Whidbey
ICPH
Environmental Health
Personal Health
Mental Health & Substance Abuse Support
Developmental Disabilities Services
Community Outreach
Services
Staff Roster
CHAB
|
Bordered on the north by
spectacular Deception Pass, on the south by the Oak Harbor School District southern
boundary, and by Puget Sound waters on the east and west, North Whidbey Island is a
combination of rural forest and farmlands, a Naval Air Station and the largest city on the
island - Oak Harbor with 20,190 residents. Approximately half the population of the county
resides in this area, an estimated 43,000 people. This sub-county area also includes
branches of Skagit Valley Community College and Western Washington University; a growing
industrial base which includes Technical Services Inc., Logos Research, and Upchurch
Scientific; and InterWest Bank .
Population characteristics, as depicted in the chart below, indicate the age and gender of
the population. This profile clearly reflects the presence of the naval air station with a
large increase in males and a smaller increase in females ages 20-29. The larger number of
very young children may be related to the large number of residents of young childbearing
age. Note the very steep decline in numbers as age increases. North Whidbey Island does
not appear to be a large retirement community.
The telephone survey conducted in the summer of 1996 included close to 400 residents of
this region. The survey addressed health behavior and health concerns. Specific responses
from North Whidbey residents that are statistically different than residents in other
parts of Island County are included here.
Residents of North Whidbey (38%) are more likely to go two years or more between blood
cholesterol checks than residents of the rest of the county (28%).
Residents were asked if they are limited in some activities because of impairments or
health problems. North Whidbey residents were less likely to report having a disability
(15%) than were other residents of the county (25%).
Residents were asked if they consumed at least one drink of alcohol in the last month.
Residents of North Whidbey were less likely to drink alcohol in the past month (57%) than
were residents of the rest of the county (69%).
A series of questions were asked about exposure to violence. North Whidbey residents were
most likely to report "grabbing, pushing or choking" happening to themselves or
someone close (10%) compared to residents of the rest of the county (3%).
Residents were read a list of environmental factors and were asked if any may be affecting
their health. Drinking water quality was the most cited (by 20%). North and South Whidbey
residents were more likely to see food safety as a problem than were Central Whidbey and
Camano island (9% to 2%).
Drinking Water
The majority of North Whidbey residents receive their drinking water from the City of Oak
Harbor and NAS Whidbey via a pipeline from the City of Anacortes utilizing Skagit River
water. This pipeline serves approximately 35% of the population of Island County. The
remaining 65% of the population are dependent upon ground water for their water supply. On
North Whidbey, salt water intrusion occurs to a lesser extent, primarily impacting the
western coast of the north end of Whidbey Island. |
ICPH
CHAB
Top
|