There are many potential risks from products stored at our homes, two of the most dangerous are firearms and medicine. Keeping these products away from children and others who might misuse them is an important way to keep families safe.
On February 17, 2022, the King County Board of Health repealed King County’s bike helmet law, due to discriminatory enforcement of the law. The Board of Health also emphasized the importance of helmet use for bikes, scooters and other similar vehicles and committed to work with community partners to expand access to low and no-cost helmets, provide education on helmet safety, and support the improvements for safer bike infrastructure.
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.