It appears that there is measurable inequity in emergency services received by minorities in Vancouver (“City eyes emergency services equity,” Aug. 25, The Columbian).
Since Vancouver alone boasts about one-third of the entire population of Clark County (161,291 divided by 488,241 is 33 percent), it is probably safe to say the research results reported by the Vancouver Fire Department are representative for all of Clark County.
I applaud the fire department for paying to have the research done, sharing the results and now working toward ways to raise the treatment levels for “racial minorities, women and the poor and elderly” to the same (higher) level of white male patients.
Other government entities within Vancouver, other Clark County cities and Clark County, as well, should take note.
