You otter know (about asthma)

May 17, 2016.Reading time 3 minutes.

Asthma impacts nine percent of adults, five percent of kids, and one sea otter in King County. Yes, a sea otter. Last fall, Mishka, a one-year-old sea otter at the Seattle Aquarium was diagnosed with asthma. Don’t know much about asthma? Public Health Insider teamed up with Mishka and her friends at the Seattle Aquarium to kelp you […]

EPA recognizes asthma program’s leadership

May 3, 2016.Reading time 7 minutes.

On May 3, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the King County Asthma Program as a recipient of the 2016 National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management. The award honors local asthma programs for leadership in improving the lives of people with asthma, especially those in underserved communities. Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that […]

Study: Home visits by community-health workers improve asthma and quality of life

November 24, 2014.Reading time 2 minutes.

Low-income adults with uncontrolled asthma saw both their asthma control and quality of life improve with the help of an in-home, self-management asthma support program delivered by community health workers (CHWs), according to a study published online today by JAMA Internal Medicine. “The great news about this intervention is that it could be readily replicated by health […]

Parents’ pressing pandemic questions and Public Health answers

April 15, 2022.Reading time 14 minutes.

A parent is on the phone and seated at a table with a computer and two young children, all are wearing medical masks.

At this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, parents are faced with uncertainty, and a ton of tricky questions. King County Public Health answered.

Public Health Crafter’s Corner: 1-minute DIY Filter Fan

July 16, 2021.Reading time 7 minutes.

Woman in apron waving and holding a box fan. Text: Public Health Crafter's Corner: DIY Air Filter

Welcome to the Public Health Crafter’s Corner: Wildfire Smoke Edition! Learn how to make an air filter with a box fan, air filter, and bungee cord. These DIY filter fans can quickly clean the air in your home or work space!

Wildfire season is coming — get smoke ready!

June 17, 2021.Reading time 11 minutes.

Hand-drawn art depicting young person using an inhaler in front of a smoky Seattle skyline.

Wildfire activity and weather patterns vary from year to year, making it a challenge to predict the likelihood of experiencing wildfire smoke events in any given year. However, for three of the past four years, wildfire smoke in our region has exposed people to unhealthy levels of particulate air pollution for prolonged periods of time. That is why Public Health is encouraging all residents to prepare now and be Smoke Ready.