With hot summer days comes an increased desire to cool off in the region’s pools, beaches, rivers, and lakes. But in 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic pushed more people towards outdoor activities, King County saw drowning deaths double compared to 2018. Thirty-three people lost their lives in King County waters last year, nearly 70% of which occurred in open water incidents and drowning continues to be the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children and teens.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all people riding a bike should wear helmets so they can have a safer brain and stronger future. The good news is that affordable bike helmets are available for King County residents.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and in this time of widespread crisis, it is more important than ever to remember you are not alone. Encourage your loved ones to reach out for help if they need it. It is also especially important to keep your guns safely locked away.
As the weather gets warmer, you may want to go to the beach to enjoy the rivers and lakes in our area. But this summer, due to COVID-19 spread and budget cuts, many beaches in Seattle and King County do not – or likely will not – have a lifeguard on duty, and many will remain closed. Additionally, many swim lesson programs are cancelled, and most open beaches will not have life jacket loaner stations available this year.
Editorial note: This is our third blog post dedicated to explaining data releases about firearm deaths and injuries in King County and Seattle. You can access our firearm injury data products here. Previous posts focused on firearm homicide and firearm suicide. Firearm injuries are a substantial public health issue for our community, causing preventable suffering […]
