Public Health

170 Stories

Bremerton treats Kitsap Lake to tackle toxic algae

Ever heard of lanthanum? The city of Bremerton plans to use a powdered form of lanthanum to lower levels of phosphorus in the city’s only lake, Kitsap Lake.
- John Ryan
E-bike fires are sparking trouble in Seattle. Here's how to use them safely

Seattle’s streets have become home to hundreds of electronic bikes and scooters in recent years, with a growing number of commuters and hobbyists relying on them to get around. As usage of these lithium-ion battery powered devices grows, so has the number of fires in connection with them. That’s prompted the Seattle Fire Department to urge caution when using and storing the devices.
- Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez
Libraries in Western Washington confront the challenges of being open to all

Libraries are taking on a new role as social service providers, hiring mental health professionals and in some cases building an entire in-house social services team to help people in crisis who come to the library because they have nowhere else to go.
- Jason Burrows
E-bike head trauma soars as helmet use falls, study finds

A new study shows that nearly 8,000 e-bike riders sought hospital care for head injuries in 2022. It's a huge increase and the majority of the injured riders were not wearing helmets.
- Ronnie Cohen
Syphilis cases are 'skyrocketing' in King County. Who’s most at risk?

Recently released data from the CDC shows syphilis cases are at a 74-year high in the United States. The surge in infections has Public Health – Seattle and King County concerned about the rising local epidemic.
- Diana Opong
Health workers struggle to prevent an infectious disease 'disaster in waiting' in Gaza

Public health experts say conditions in war-torn Gaza are ripe for the spread of infectious disease. Health workers are struggling to spot and contain outbreaks, even as the health system teeters.
- Anas Baba
One solution to Seattle’s fentanyl crisis

We are in the depths of a drug crisis. Twelve thousand people and counting have died from overdoses this year in King County. There’s one solution the Seattle area hasn’t adopted, even though it has a track record of saving lives and other benefits: Safe consumption sites. Seattle Times reporter Greg Kim tells us about these sites and the locals trying to open them here.
- Clare McGrane
Protesters sought new 911 response in Seattle. Here it is

During the Seattle protests sparked by George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police in 2020, a common refrain from advocates and elected officials was the need for someone besides an officer “with a badge and a gun” to respond to 911 calls for people in mental crisis. It took years of preparation but this week Seattle officials say 911 dispatchers will begin directing teams of mental health professionals to a subset of emergency calls, alongside police officers.
- Amy Radil
Seattle is toilet poor

Nothing ruins a fun day out in the city, like secretly or not so secretly needing to find a bathroom. We all need them, but not everybody has ready access to a toilet. That could mean different things depending on your situation. Seattle Times reporters, Dan Beekman, and Anna Patrick did a deep dive on Seattle's public toilets and share what they found.
- Caroline Chamberlain Gomez
7 graphics on kids and guns in the Seattle area

Sixty-eight kids died by gun between 2017 and 2022 in King County. That's like three classrooms wiped out.
- Isolde Raftery

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