As winter approaches, you may find yourself driving in the snow, skiing, snowboarding, sledding, ice skating, or giving gifts this season. Get ready with these safety tips from the Violence and Injury Prevention team at Public Health—Seattle & King County.
Early in the pandemic, tobacco researchers wondered how smoking impacted COVID-19. Years of evidence suggest that smoking worsens respiratory infections, and COVID-19 is no exception.
For 20 years, the Washington State Quitline has helped people quit tobacco products by providing free and confidential counseling to callers. Tobacco remains a leading preventable cause of disease and death in Washington and the United States. With personal call and text support, the Quitline uses tested techniques to help people live tobacco-free.
After entering Phase 2 of Governor Inslee’s Safe Start Reopening Plan, Public Health – Seattle & King County has observed an unsettling trend with COVID-19 cases rising as restaurants, bars, and taverns resume operations. In an effort to keep businesses open and move King County forward through the Safe Start phases, Public Health is launching a new initiative to begin educational outreach and enforcement of Safe Start requirements for operating restaurants, bars, and taverns.
Since March, we in King County have slowed the spread of COVID-19 by staying home and keeping our distance. But did you know we’ve also prevented hundreds of traffic crashes by staying off the roads? Traffic crashes were 37% lower in March and more than 60% lower in April and May than the same time last year, which we’re all glad to see. With King County now in Phase 2 and more vehicles on our roads, we can work together to keep our streets safe. Here’s how:
Today, we declare that racism is a public health crisis. Public Health – Seattle & King County and all of King County government are committed to implementing a racially equitable response to this crisis, centering on community.