Firearm Safety
A letter to the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that firearms are now the leading cause of death for America’s Children based on the CDC’s updated mortality data. Axios noted that nearly two-thirds of the 4,368 U.S. children up to age 19 killed by guns in 2020 were homicide victims. Motor vehicle crashes were formerly the leading cause.
Our friends at Safe Kids Worldwide have some Gun Safety Tips you can embed onto your website or reference in your materials. They cover a variety of topics including how to:
- Store guns and ammunition safely.
- Talk to your kids and their caregivers about firearms.
- Dispose of guns you don’t need.
- Manage the risks posed by a gun in a variety of situations.
More than a third of all unintentional shootings of children take place in the homes of their friends, neighbors, or relatives. That’s why it’s also important for parents to make sure kids are safe when they spend time where other people live. Just as you’d ask about pets, allergies, supervision, and other safety issues before your child visits another home, add one more important question: “Is there an unlocked gun in your house?”
Another study shows that during the pandemic firearm death increased rapidly by 28% from 2019-2020. And earlier this month from coast to coast, thousands of Americans showed up in orange on National Gun Violence Prevention Day to honor survivors and build community with others working to end gun violence.
I’m Safe hears the concerns around gun safety. We understand and want to provide practical and affordable Firearm Safety materials you can tailor to address your program goals. Stay tuned and if you have any specific requests or ideas related to firearm safety, please email [email protected]. Thank you so much!
