King County’s food safety employees want to ensure that the County’s restaurant safety ratings are as simple and user-friendly as possible for residents so they turned to a new system that everyone understands: emojis. “[Diners] were telling us that they wanted the information to be easy to understand, and to see it at the restaurant, helping them make decisions on the spot,” Becky Elias, Food Program Manager with Public Health – Seattle & King County, said. “People can walk down the street, see a window sign outside of a restaurant and be able… Read More

King County is harnessing the power of the sun and the innovations of its employees to provide lighting at its bus shelters. King County Metro Transit is one of the largest transit systems in the country, and its network of more than 8,000 bus stops and 1,800 bus stop shelters is growing! Metro’s employees are using solar power as a climate- and budget-friendly solution to providing lighting at bus shelters. Solar lighting is being installed in about 50 new shelters each year, as well as in another 50 shelters through refurbishment. “Solar… Read More

Flooding is the most common winter weather disaster and one which many residents are unprepared. From river flooding to urban drain and stream flooding, “Be Flood Ready” is a print resource available in 21 languages to raise awareness about available resources and best practices for reducing risks associated with flooding. The brochure is available as a PDF online at www.kingcounty.gov/floodservices or in print, by request. The web site also has videos in the same 21 languages on flood preparedness that are available for sharing to your web site, social media or in communications.

From Tuesday, January 3 through mid-February, crews will close the sidewalk on the east side of 4th Ave S between S Washington and Jefferson streets. This sidewalk closure is in addition to the sidewalk closure on the west side of 4th Ave S, check out the detour map here. Crews will be widening the bridge footings (beneath the sidewalk) during the weekdays, and other crews will be installing a large electrical utility duct bank next to the eastern bridge abutment on weeknights. The right lane on 4th Ave S will be closed during weeknights to… Read More

With the New Year comes a time to change and a season for starting fresh. Plenty of people take on health-related New Year’s resolutions that range from eating better to quitting smoking. While each resolution comes with its own challenges, King County employees can count on being supported in their resolution to stay physically fit, even at work. The Healthy Incentives Healthy at Work program promotes fitness opportunities, healthy eating and other ways for employees to stay in great shape, but one of the most popular activities is a cardio-kickboxing class. Held… Read More

The County’s Department of Public Health Access and Outreach team has earned designation as a Washington Connections Community Partnership Champion! Washington Connection advances health and reduces inequities by helping people access medical, food, and other types of assistance, and Public Health’s team was recognized as a leader by the state’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). “This recognition is extremely gratifying because our goal is to improve the lives of King County residents, and Washington Connection is one of the tools to help us do this,” said Daphne Pie, Access and… Read More

Crossposted from Public Health Insider  Influenza is hitting hard in King County. We caught up with Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County, to get his take on the flu season so far.  What kind of levels of flu are you seeing in King County right now?  Over the past two weeks we’ve seen flu activity take off with marked increases in positive laboratory tests for flu and people seeking medical care. The number of people seen at hospital emergency departments with flu-like illnesses to-date is more… Read More