Hospital Council of Southern Arizona
Submitted by:
Sally E. Jeffcoat, Chairwoman
Stephanie B. Healy, President
For the continued health and safety of our residents, you must vote yes twice this May 16; first to approve the Regional Transportation Plan and again to pass a half-cent sales tax to fund these vitally needed improvements.
According to Tucson Fire Department, traffic congestion is the number one cause of ambulance delays. The National Fire Protection Association standard calls for emergency vehicles to respond in four minutes or less 90 percent of the time. In Tucson, ambulances reach this goal only 60 percent of the time and for rural fire districts, the time is even longer.
If we can’t meet the standard now, what will life be like as Pima County continues to grow, and slows down response times to patients? Each minute of lost response time diminishes a patient’s chance of surviving critical injuries or illness by 10 percent.
Isn’t that worth $5 a month to your family?
By 2026, Pima County will see a 54-percent increase in population and a 76-percent rise in transportation needs for the elderly and disabled. This will have a huge impact on our ability to provide accessible health care and emergency medical services.
More than 10 percent of Arizona’s traffic deaths occur in Pima County. When we improve transportation, we save lives and lower health care costs, insurance and lost wage and productivity expenses.
It’s not just emergency care response time that is vital to health care. From young mothers and children to our senior citizens and disabled, accessible transportation to the doctor’s office is essential. Efficient, balanced transportation helps protect the environment and promote public health, cleaner air and healthier, active lifestyles.
Now is the time to act. For your family’s benefit and for the future of our community, please vote yes on Questions 1 and 2.
