Understanding ones own community is essential in public health to improve health problems, concerns or benefits.

The examination of the community of the town of New Hartford in the state of New York by utilizing the windshield survey and gathering substantial data is to be analyzed. The top three health concerns, problems and benefits presented by this community. This analysis will involve a nursing diagnosis of the most significant health concern based on this community. The Town of New Hartford located in New York State demographics and significantly related information. The zip code of 13413, with a population is 1,847 and is in a nice suburban area. The climate has approximately 42 inches of rain and 76 inches of snow per a year, July has a high of 83 degrees with the January low being 12 degrees Fahrenheit with an average of 162 sunny days per a year. In this area of 6.1% of people live past the age of 85. The mean education level of individuals 25 or older: high school degree or higher: 95%, Bachelors or higher: 41.7%, Graduate or professional degree: 15.6%. The average incame range is $52,627 a year with an unemployment rate of 7.80% (http://www.city-data.com/city/New-Hartford-New-York.html#ixzz2P3CgdRPd ). The infant mortality rate of Oneida County that include the town of New Hartford has 4.2 deaths per every 1,000 live births (http://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/chac/birth/im30.htm). The top five causes of death in Oneida County are heart disease: 192 per 100,000, Cancer: 172 per 100,000, Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases: 46 per 100,000, Stroke: 40 per 100,000, Unintentional Injury: 26 per 100,000 (http://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/leadingcauses/leadingcauses_death/deaths_by_county.htm). Through the windshield survey I was able to get to know the community on a better level by driving through the town of New Hartford. This suburban area has a mixture traffic levels, near the two mall located in New Hartford it is quite busy. The outskirts of New Hartford there are farms and there is a change from high traffic to low traffic in these areas. Transportation is predominantly by car and there are accessible bus stops, however there is no bicycle lane to provide extra space and safety. The housing is multifamily older homes that are well maintained, in the outskirts of New Hartford there are new development in extremely large brand new houses that are very well maintained. The open space is utilized well with parks and gazebos; there is added open space behind the elementary and high schools for recreational activities. There are a numerous activities such as two malls, library, and churches. These areas where well maintained, well light and feel safe. There is a large amount of police present and during my survey while stopped on the side of the road to reset my camera a police officer pulled up to investigate the situation. Other protective services of a volunteer fire department are located in the center of town with three hospitals within ten miles. Within the town of new Hartford there are small family owned businesses that are mostly restaurants the do represent the ethnicity of the community. At the malls groceries and clothing is easily available, there is no famers market present but there is an organic health food store. In the area there are a large amount of fast food places such as McDonalds, Wendys, KFC and others. There is no decay of trash present on the streets but there is an older truck company that looks abandoned. There are people walking and performing physical activity during the day. Most people seen looked to be in there early 30s and prominently white, some individuals where fit while others where

obese. The malls do provide extra services such as gyms, banks and hair salons. Media of billboards are present, they are in English and well maintained.

In Oneida County including New Hartford I have identify and prioritize three health problems, concerns or benefits. The top priority health problem in Oneida County is obesity. Obesity is associated with such health problems of: diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular accident, osteoarthritis, and obstructive sleep apnea (Huang, Marin, Yu, Carden, Arnold, Davis, & Banks, 2003). Heart disease and strokes are two of the top five cuases of death in Oneida County, these are directly related to obesity (http://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/leadingcauses/leadingcauses_death/deaths_by_county.htm). In Oneida County the adult obesity rate is 24.4% that is higher than the state average of 23.8. In Oneida County 8.8% of adults have diabetes, also higher than the state average of 8.2%. The low-income preschool obesity is 15.0% only slightly lower than the state average of 15.6%. A total number of fast food or places considered to be unhealthy were 22 within this suburban area. The presence of fast food restaurants within one-tenth of a mile of schools is associated with 5.2 percent increase in obesity rate for school age children. This also has similar effect on pregnant women who live within a half mile of their residence to have an increase of 1.6% over gaining over 20 kg throughout their pregnancy (http://www.princeton.edu/~jcurrie/publications/fastfood.pdf). These results show how living closer to fast food restaurants that are easily available has a direct correlation on weight gain that can lead to obesity. http://www.city-data.com/city/New-Hartford-New-York.html The next top health related risk in Oneida County is from lead. The lead levels of Oneida County are one of the highest lead levels in New York State. Homes that were built before 1978 may contain the hazard of lead that can be ingested from dust, paint, and even soil(http://www2.envmed.rochester.edu/envmed/ehsc/outreach/coec/projects/Oneida/Oneida_FinalRe port_040309.pdf). Lead can lead to biochemical and function changes of: renal system, cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, nervous and intellectual development (Ros, & Mwanri, 2003). New York State has one of the highest rates of lead in the country; Oneida County has the 17th highest rate. In 2005 Oneida had 152 reported lead levels above 10 g/dL. New Hartford has a majority of their residential housing built before 1978 with an estimated 7,500 homes constructed (http://www.citydata.com/zips/13413.html). Children up to the age of 6 living in Lead based paint used in houses built before 1978 are considered to be the ones who are at the greatest risk. This is risk is due to the high level of environmental exposures, high hand-to-mouth activity, increased efficiently of gastrointestinal absorption, and increased mobility (Department of Health ,2004). http://www2.envmed.rochester.edu/envmed/ehsc/outreach/coec/projects/Oneida/Oneida_FinalRepor t_040309.pdf

The benefit of living in New Hartford is the police force to keep crime down. In comparison from Utica, NY and New Hartford that neighbor each other have drastically different levels of crime. Utica had a reported of 6.4 murders, 413.3 assaults, and 123.2 car thefts, New Hartford had 0 murders, only 68 assaults and 39 car thefts from 2010 to 2013 (http://www.areavibes.com/crime-comparison/). New Hartford police even approached my car after being stopped for less than three minutes on the side of the road to investigate the situation. 22 officers (city data.com)

The nursing diagnosis for this community is focused towards their largest presented issue. The risk of poor community nutrition in the 13413 zip code related to the high number of fast food restaurants being near residential areas as evidence by a high obesity rate among adults and children along with high rate of type 2 diabetes. This windshield survey has allowed for a better understanding of the health problems, concerns and benefits in my surrounding community. This information in the public health setting can be used to develop interventions and educational programs. These programs will allow for the community to obtain the information needed to take a step in the progression of a healthier lifestyle.

References Huang, J., Marin, E., Yu, H., Carden, D., Arnold, C., Davis, T., & Banks, D. (2003). Prevalence of Overweight, Obesity, and Associated Diseases among Outpatients in a Public Hospital. Southern Medical Journal, 96(6), 558-562. http://www.city-data.com/city/New-Hartford-New-York.html#ixzz2P3CgdRPd ). (http://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/chac/birth/im30.htm). (http://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/leadingcauses/leadingcauses_death/deaths_by_county.htm). http://www.city-data.com/zips/13413.html Ros, C., & Mwanri, L. (2003). Lead exposure, interactions and toxicity: food for thought. Asia Pacific Journal Of Clinical Nutrition, 12(4), 388-395. Department of Health (2004) Eliminating childhood lead poisoning in new york state by 2010. Retrieved from: http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/lead/exposure/childhood/finalplantoc.htm City-data (2012). New Harford, ny. Retrieved from http://www.city-data.com/city/New-Hartford-NewYork.html#ixzz2P3CgdRPd

City-data (2012). 13413 Zip code detailed profile. Retrieved from http://www.citydata.com/zips/13413.html Currie, J., Della Vigna, S., & Pathania, V. (2010, August). The effect of fast food restaurants on obesity and weight gain. Retrieved from http://www.princeton.edu/~jcurrie/publications/fastfood.pdf Department of Health (2012). Leading causes of death by county, new york state, 2010. Retrieved from http://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/leadingcauses/leadingcauses_death/deaths_by_county.htm Department of Health (2011).Oneida county infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births. Retrieved from http://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/chac/birth/im30.htm