2002 Press Releases

>	December 31, 2002 Public Health releases report on death trends in King County "By studying deaths, we are better able to understand how to prevent many deaths and to improve the general health of our entire community," said King County Executive Ron Sims.
>	December 23, 2002 Public Health issues new edition of straight-facts booklet on childhood immunizations "Plain Talk about Childhood Immunizations" provides facts about vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine safety, the immune system, how vaccines work and current vaccine recommendations.
>	December 20, 2002 Public Health announces new tobacco retailer education campaign for 2003 As part of the new educational campaign to retailers, both educational visits and clerk training classes will be supplemented with the new statewide tobacco retailer education materials.
>	December 19, 2002 Septic system owners alert: Maintenance program available from Public Health Public Health's new Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Program is designed to help the homeowner manage the septic system to maximize its life.
>	December 12, 2002 12th Annual "Night of 1,000 Stars" Traffic Safety Patrols Law enforcement officers from around King County will patrol the roads in a united effort to purge dangerous drivers from our thoroughfares.
>	December 5, 2002 Special joint King County Board of Health and State Board of Health meeting on December 10th Discussion to include human genomics and addressing health behaviors.
>	December 4, 2002 Community report card shows progress and setbacks King County has not progressed for all of our residents and disparities exist across many of the indicators by income, education level and race/ethnicity.
>	November 26, 2002 Safe food handling, donations, and cooking practices are for a healthy holiday Whether your meals this holiday season are strictly vegetarian or include meat, fish or poultry, any meal could be the cause of food borne illness if the food is not prepared, served and stored safely.
>	November 21, 2002 Pertussis on the rise in King County King County has experienced more than three times the number of pertussis cases this year as compared to last year.
>	November 20, 2002 Tobacco 101: Local King County colleges host the Great American Smokeout "Peer influence makes an enormous difference in avoiding unhealthy behaviors such as smoking," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County.
>	November 18, 2002 Public Health promotes literacy as a tool for family bonding and wellness "Reading to children strengthens family bonds and leads to positive health outcomes, " said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County.
>	November 14, 2002 World Diabetes Day convenes community to raise awareness, promote prevention "Diabetes is a serious health problem that many people don't know that they have," said Executive Sims. "World Diabetes Day provides an opportunity for all of us to become aware of the dangers it poses."
>	November 12, 2002 Public Health awarded $336K grant to prevent Ecstasy and other club drug problems "We're thrilled that King County is getting new monies directed toward preventing Ecstasy and other club drug use among our youth and young people," said King County Executive Ron Sims.
>	November 8, 2002 King County Board of Health meeting on November 15th Discussion topics include emergency preparedness and environmental health fee packages.
>	October 31, 2002 Syphilis and other STDs epidemic in King County among gay and bisexual men "People are letting down their guard," said Dr. Bob Wood, Director of the Public Health's HIV/AIDS Program. "It's not just complacency. It's that people who feel healthy are more likely to have sex than sick ones."
>	October 28, 2002 New coalition focuses on reducing injuries to Seattle's kids The Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Seattle is a new hospital-community partnership focused on reducing childhood injury in neighborhoods throughout the city.
>	October 28, 2002 New Public Health TV show on West Nile virus airing this week "Spotlight on Environmental Health" discusses preparation for the arrival of the virus in King County and what people can do to reduce its impact.
>	October 24, 2002 Officers "Surround the Sound" searching for dangerous drivers during Halloween "Halloween should be a time of harmless scares not frightening tragedies," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "Shock friends and neighbors with your costume, not your driving."
>	October 24, 2002 U.S. Senator Patty Murray announces exciting local successes of Kids Get Care "While the Bush Administration is trying to kill the CAP program, I continue to fight for these federal dollars and the innovative local services they support," said Senator Patty Murray.
>	October 9, 2002 Public Health issues 2002-2003 flu recommendations "Let's stay healthy during this flu season. King County offers residents comprehensive flu services, from flu shots to preventive services," said King County Executive Ron Sims.
>	October 3, 2002 King County Board of Health seeks health professional members The King County Board of Health is accepting applications for three health professional positions.
>	October 3, 2002 Increasing tuberculosis incidence among African immigrants and refugees residing in Seattle and King County A new analysis of ongoing, local tuberculosis (TB) surveillance has found a significant increase in the annual number of TB cases among African immigrants.
>	September 16, 2002 King County Board of Health meeting on September 20th Discussion to include bioterrorism and west nile virus.
>	September 16, 2002 West Nile virus: Sims, Public Health director outline steps for preparation and prevention "When West Nile virus arrives to our county, it will not be cause for alarm or panic," said Sims. "King County is taking extensive steps to make sure that the consequences to our community are minimal.
>	September 12, 2002 Community forum breaks down barriers to access of health care services This event is part of continued efforts by King County to break down barriers for residents trying to access health care services.
>	September 11, 2002 Kick off of diabetes campaign targeting ethnic minority populations "This campaign will help more residents access this model program which offers culturally-sensitive diabetes education and services," said King County Executive Ron Sims.
>	September 6, 2002 New TV show demonstrates the personal side to emergency preparedness "Spotlight on Environmental Health" show titled "Be Prepared: It can ease your mind, it can save your life" that discusses personal preparation for an emergency event.
>	August 22, 2002 New report finds high rates of bullying and harassment among King County students "We have found that one way or another everybody, regardless of gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation, is affected by bullying and harassment, many times on a daily basis."
>	August 16, 2002 King County Board of Health meeting on August 23rd Discussion topics include Public Health funding, overview of Board authority and fiscal year 2002-2003.
>	August 7, 2002 Time to get 2002-2003 school year immunizations "Without a doubt, immunizations are one of the safest and most effective ways to maintain good health and prevent disease," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County.
>	August 5, 2002 HIV/AIDS Planning Council adopts allocation plan for 2003 care services The Seattle HIV/AIDS Planning Council adopted an allocation plan for the distribution of an anticipated $5.3 million to support the delivery of care services to low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS in King County.
>	August 1, 2002 Breastfeeding leads to good health, valuable bond "Breast milk is the ideal form of nutrition for babies, has unparalleled health benefits for mother and child, and fosters a special parent-baby relationship," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County.
>	July 22, 2002 North Bend retailers refuse tobacco to minors North Bend retailers have continued their strong compliance with tobacco laws as all 14 retailers recently checked during tobacco stings refused to sell tobacco to under-age youth.
>	July 15, 2002 Promising downward trends in heroin, cocaine drug abuse for King County "Drug-related deaths are tragic and unnecessary, particularly for the many who want desperately to get treatment, but can't afford it," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director for Public Health - Seattle & King County
>	July 12, 2002 King County Board of Health meeting on July 19th Discussion topics include budget workshop, bioterrorism preparedness, West Nile Virus, hepatitis C, pandemic flu, vaccine shortage and Harborview Medical Center.
>	July 9, 2002 Thousands eligible but not enrolled for free and low-cost insurance for children There are approximately 12,000 children and teens in King County who are eligible to receive free health insurance but currently are not enrolled.
>	July 3, 2002 Keep baby bottoms in leak-proof pants at the beach, Public Health recommends "Accidentally swallowing contaminated water can cause serious illness, and keeping babies properly diapered is good prevention," said Dr. Ngozi Oleru, Chief of Environmental Health for Public Health - Seattle & King County.
>	June 27, 2002 Public Health celebrates Gay Pride, healthy living "All populations have a right to healthy living and to be proud of their communities," said King County Executive Ron Sims. Sims has declared June as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month in King County.
>	June 17, 2002 South King County community gathers to discuss arsenic and lead contamination Recent figures showed contamination in most locations sampled, and the findings have left community residents and legislators asking about health impacts.
>	June 3, 2002 Public Health director to address arsenic and lead soil contamination in King County The contamination is believed to have come from the now-closed Asarco copper smelter in Ruston, near Tacoma.
>	May 30, 2002 World No Tobacco Day celebrated with activities across King County "Without a doubt, tobacco and healthy living do not go hand in hand. World No Tobacco Day is an opportunity to clear the air and claim our right to health and healthy living," said King County Executive Ron Sims.
>	May 22, 2002 Food safety a top concern for Public Health Memorial holiday weekend Public Health encourages food donations, and stresses that donated food be prepared and handled with safety in mind.
>	May 17, 2002 Health plans and hospitals join forces to address worsening health trends This collaboration evolved three years ago in response to sobering local data showing worsening trends for these health conditions.
>	May 15, 2002 Fanfare greets new access of senior services to Latinos in Kirkland Starting immediately, existing programming at the Kirkland Senior will be made available to Latino seniors every Wednesday through the presence of a bilingual staff worker.
>	May 10, 2002 King County Board of Health meeting on May 17th Discussion topics include Kids Get Care program, OSS fee package, and Community Benefits Program.
>	May 3, 2002 Traffic Safety Coalition reveals plan to reduce alcohol-related crashes during Cinco de Mayo "We have put together an impressive coalition of agencies and businesses that are committed to keeping our roads safe," said King County Executive Ron Sims.
>	April 24, 2002 Vashon Island gets consistently good marks in not selling tobacco to minors "Retailers play a vital role in our efforts to limit youth access to tobacco. If we can keep our children from tobacco addiction before the age of 18, studies show they will likely never start using it," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County.
>	April 18, 2002 Teen Health Center opens at Ballard High School "In the past, adolescents have been the group least likely to seek medical care, but we are addressing this issue by providing appropriate and teen-focused health services," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County.
>	April 17, 2002 Nickels, community leaders kick off water safety efforts with April Pool's Day 2002 "Drownings are preventable, and without a doubt, water safety knowledge and actions saves lives," said King County Executive Ron Sims.
>	April 12, 2002 King County Board of Health meeting on April 19th Discussion topics include legislative update, housing and health grant proposal.
>	April 11, 2002 Public Health launches Spanish-language webpages "Public Health has put top priority on eliminating health disparities, and we want to make sure Spanish speakers have access to the best local health services and prevention information"
>	April 4, 2002 Bill weakening local food standards vetoed by Governor Locke "King County has already developed model regulations with the involvement of the industry," said Executive Sims. "This bill would have undermined that work and lowered the bar for food protection."
>	April 2, 2002 Public Health urges those of all ages to make physical activity part of their lifestyles There is no one formula. People should choose the activities that best meet their needs and that they enjoy," said Dr. Cheza Collier, a Public Health chronic disease prevention expert.
>	April 1, 2002 Sims, Nickels proclaim Public Health Week Seattle and King County are joined internationally in this effort, as both the World Health Organization and the American Association for World Health have declared April 7th as World Health Day.
>	March 29, 2002 Washington hits unfortunate milestone with 10,000th AIDS diagnosis in state The Washington Department of Health recently confirmed the 10,000th case of AIDS in the state. It's an unfortunate milestone that points out both the progress made and the work yet to be done.
>	March 21, 2002 On World TB Day, March 24th, Public Health stresses TB is not a disease of the past On World TB Day this March 24th, Public Health - Seattle & King County is stressing the significant advances in TB prevention and treatment, but also recognizing that TB still affects segments of our population.
>	March 15, 2002 Public Health issues report citing alarming increase in unhealthy body weight "It's paramount that we begin to live healthier lives. We are consuming too much food and doing too little exercise," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "Reducing obesity must become a priority for all of our residents."
>	March 14, 2002 Public Health and Lake Forest Park publish walking map to promote exercise "Physical activity is one of the best ways to prevent disease, and walking is one of the easiest ways to get started, " said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County.
>	March 14, 2002 Traffic safety patrols out in force during St. Patrick's Day weekend Law enforcement officers from all parts of King County will be out on St. Patrick's Day weekend to identify and remove unsafe drivers from the roads.
>	March 13, 2002 Public meeting to discuss proposed on-site sewage fees In order to protect public health, county and state code requires local health departments to implement plans to periodically monitor on-site sewage systems (OSS).
>	March 8, 2002 King County Board of Health meeting on March 15th Discussion topics include bicycle helmets and obesity prevention.
>	March 7, 2002 New round of diabetes activities focus on minority communities The Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) 2010 Coalition has started its second round of community-based intervention activities.
>	March 5, 2002 Mercer Island tobacco retailers turn down minors This year once again, Mercer Island retailers have faired well during tobacco stings (compliance checks) as 92% of the 13 retailers refused to sell tobacco to underage youth.
>	February 14, 2002 Public Health joined by local and national partners in Ecstasy education campaign "Let me set the record straight. Club drugs and Ecstasy are not safe and are not harmless," said King County Executive Ron Sims.
>	February 11, 2002 Public Health and Redmond Police team up to reduce youth access to tobacco The major focus is to educate retailers about the new and improved driver's license format that has specific features to help clerks quickly identify underage customers.
>	February 8, 2002 King County Board of Health meeting on February 15th Discussion will be on dental amalgams with a public forum following.
>	February 6, 2002 Public Health's school-based clinics receive Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant to address rising problems in mental health The grant will fund on-site psychiatric evaluation and consultation over the next three years in the Reaching for Excellence program in seven Seattle school-based teen health centers.
>	January 29, 2002 Public Health issues 2000-2001 Youth Health Services Report In the past, adolescents have been the group least likely to seek medical care, but this report shows that teens will access teen-friendly services.
>	January 28, 2002 Thousands of kids will receive increased access to preventive dental care through Washington Dental Service Foundation grant "This new grant will help us in our continued efforts to improve the delivery of health services and bridge the health gap between the haves and the have-nots," said King County Executive Ron Sims.
>	January 15, 2002 King County Board of Health meeting on January 18th Discussion will include a briefing on On Site Sewage Program (OSS).
>	January 3, 2002 Quit smoking for safer driving. Another good reason to quit: smoking can contribute to distracted driving. Distracted driving is a common cause of collisions, often with tragic results. Activities such as cellphone use, eating while driving, changing a CD or smoking have contributed to many crashes.

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