National Injury Prevention Day illuminates the burden of injury and violence in our community

November 17, 2021.Reading time 7 minutes.

Image of a man looking at his phone while driving

National Injury Prevention Day, November 18, 2021, shines a light on a key public health and safety issue.

As Drowning Deaths Doubled in King County in 2020, Water Safety Is More Important Than Ever

June 24, 2021.Reading time 5 minutes.

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.

Protect your head! Free and low-cost helmets in King County

June 15, 2021.Reading time 3 minutes.

Two adults and child riding bicycles wearing helmets

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.

How to store firearms safely: Lifesaving information for National Suicide Prevention Month

September 21, 2020.Reading time 3 minutes.

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.

Safe Swimming in COVID times

July 15, 2020.Reading time 4 minutes.

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.

Data Dive: Non-fatal shooting data available from Public Health

January 6, 2020.Reading time 8 minutes.

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 […]