by Vee Hua 華婷婷
by Megan Burbank
As we prepare for this summer’s wildfire season in King County and throughout the state, it’s essential to track disproportionate impacts on People of Color, folks living in poverty, young children and older adults, and people with underlying health conditions, like asthma and cardiovascular disease. These impacts are well-documented, but a new report shows that pregnant people are also at risk when air is unhealthy to breathe, and the toll can be even greater when other factors, like poverty, converge with expecting a baby.
Continue reading OPINION: PNW Wildfires Threaten Health Equity, Especially if You’re PregnantThe Morning Update Show — hosted by Trae Holiday and The Big O (Omari Salisbury) — is the only weekday news and information livestream that delivers culturally relevant content to the Pacific Northwest’s urban audience. Omari and Trae analyze the day’s local and national headlines as well as melanin magic in our community. Watch live every weekday at 11 a.m. on any of the following channels, hosted by Converge Media: YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Periscope, and whereweconverge.com.
We also post the Morning Update Show here on the Emerald each day after it airs, so you can catch up any time of day while you peruse our latest posts.
LIVE — Moni Tep of Creative Justice | LIVE — Soulma Ayers of Beloved King County | Will Smith Issues Apology, Oscars Launches Investigation | Poor Neighborhoods, Poor Air Quality | The Central District Gift That Keeps on Giving
Continue reading The Morning Update Show — 3/29curated by Emerald Staff
American Indian Health Commission and Tribal/Urban Indian Health Immunizations Coalition are “Pulling Together for Wellness” and providing free vaccines to adults and children 12 and older on Wednesday, July 28 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. No appointment necessary! Free emergency dental services are also available by appointment (call 480-760-1486 to schedule).
Continue reading NEWS GLEAMS: Vaccine Pop-up, Student Jobs at SPL, Preparing for Wildfire Smoke, More!by Andrew Engelson
After a record heat wave earlier this summer, Seattle is bracing for a West Coast wildfire season that’s now well underway. More than 300 fires are burning in British Columbia, a 150,000-acre forest fire is raging in south-central Oregon, and new fires are sparking in California and Idaho. In response to drought conditions, Gov. Jay Inslee last week declared a state of emergency and issued a statewide ban on most outdoor burning.
With memories of last year’s intensely smoky skies still fresh, residents of South Seattle are preparing for what could be another hazy — and hazardous — summer.
Continue reading Preparing for Wildfire Smoke in South Seattle This Summercurated by Emerald Staff
This Week, the City Will Vaccinate a Record 30K People — The City of Seattle will administer approximately 30,000 vaccines across multiple sites this week including Lumen Field Event Center, the Rainier Beach and West Seattle Community Vaccination Hubs, and via Seattle Fire Department Mobile Vaccination Teams (MVTs), which will visit locations where formerly homeless adults live in permanent supportive housing. The MVTs will also administer second-dose shots to older adults living in affordable housing.
Continue reading NEWS GLEAMS: Vaccine Updates, Calls for Artists, Earth Day Zoom Rally, and More!by Emerald Staff
The Public Information Officer for Washington Emergency Management Division (WEMD) has issued the following Emergency Alert:
“There is [a] super massive cloud of smoke outside of California and Oregon. The wind is changing direction and it’s coming your way tomorrow. You have today to prepare. Let your family and friends know.”
WEMD recommends taking steps to ensure your safety:
Filter your air: Create a box fan filter to keep the air around you as unpolluted as possible. This video will walk you through it (a Spanish version follows the English version). Alternatively, invest in a professional filtering device if possible.
Shop now: Don’t wait to grab essential items.
Stay home: If you don’t have to go out tomorrow, don’t.
Stay updated: Find air quality forecasts here.
Visit the Department of Health website for more information on how to protect yourself from smoke.
Featured image via Washington State Dept. of Ecology.
by Katherine Long
(This story originally appeared in Bitterroot, an online magazine about the politics, economy, culture, and environment of the West.)
After wildfires ripped through California this fall, the plumes of smoke that enveloped the state underscored how millions of people living in the West are being exposed to air pollution. Climate change is likely to make fire and smoke problems worse. What that means for our health, though, is just starting to be understood by researchers. Continue reading Air Quality Is Better Everywhere But The West. Blame Wildfires
