Rapid access to emergency medical services (EMS) is crucial for the survival outcomes of patients who have suffered major trauma and sudden injuries. However, millions of Americans throughout the country live in areas where ambulances cannot reach those who need care within five minutes – the National Fire Protection Association’s benchmark for critical calls. For those living in historically redlined neighborhoods, the disparity in rapid access to EMS is even more pronounced, according to a new study led by Cherisse Berry, professor of surgery at Rutgers University.
For their study, Dr. Berry and her co-authors leveraged data from 2020 Census block groups and available maps from the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation. These historical maps used redlining grades to determine the desirability of neighborhoods, with A meaning “most desirable,” B meaning “still desirable,” C meaning “declining,” and D meaning “hazardous.” Currently, these D-labeled communities have lower shares of White residents, higher shares of Black residents, and greater population density than A-labeled communities.
Using modern traffic data, the authors determined the drive times from 42,472 EMS stations across the country. Of the 41 million people living inside the analyzed mapped zones, some 2.2 million residents (5.34 percent) do not have rapid access to EMS. Notably, residents living in grade D areas had 67 percent higher odds of having no rapid access to EMS compared to those living in grade A areas. This pattern emerged in areas throughout the country, but was particularly present in the Great Lakes region, where residents in grade D neighborhoods were almost three times as likely to be farther than a five minute drive of an EMS station.
There’s nothing new about this research in any capacity. It may be new to the average White, Asian, or Latino, but the average native born Black American could have easily told them. I find it very interesting these politically correct academics failed to properly identify the true origins of this decades old EMS problem in America called RACISM. The basis of their research should have been Public Enemy’s song titled “911 is a Joke” for starters.