First Step in Firearm Safety? ASK About Them

According to recently released data from the CDC, for the first time in history, firearm injuries were the leading cause of death among children in the United States in 2020.

All types of deaths by firearms increased- suicide, homicide and unintended shootings, but the biggest rise in firearm deaths were from homicide.  Guns kill more children than do car crashes, swimming pools, cancer or any infection.  Guns kill more children in the United States than anything else. 

It is important to know that there are things that each of us can do to help keep kids safe from gun injuries and death. Let’s Not Miss Our Moment to #EndGunViolence (YouTube video)

If you have guns in your home, store them safely.

Children are safest if there are no guns in the home. If you do have guns in your home, make sure that each gun is stored safely. This can save the life of a child.  Also, never clean your gun while your child is present. Information on safe storage of guns is available on the American Academy of Pediatrics website. Safe storage of guns is key and includes:

• Keeping the gun unloaded
• Keeping the gun locked
• Storing ammunition separately from the gun
• Keeping ammunition locked

June 21 is ASK Day (Asking Saves Kids)

Even if you do not have a gun in your own home, we know that 44% of Americans report living in a home with at least one gun present and 48% of those living in a household with a gun report having a child under 18 in the household (Gallop, October 2020).  So, it is important to ask about guns in homes where your children may visit. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages families to ASK about firearm safety in friends’ homes. In fact, ASK Day is June 21 and stands for Asking Saves Kids. 

A question as simple as, “Is there an unlocked gun in your house?” can save your child’s life.

These examples may help you start this life-saving conversation.

• “I’m always worried about my child’s safety. What do you do with the guns in your home?”
• “We saw a campaign online, and I’ve started asking everyone, how do you store the guns in your home?”
• When moving a child into their first apartment at college or elsewhere: “I’ve been concerned about (child’s name)’s safety since they were little; I just wanted to ask, are there guns in the apartment? How do you store it?

Advocating for gun safety in the community

You may also decide you want to get involved in keeping our whole community safe from gun violence by serving as an advocate for firearm safety.  The American Academy of Pediatrics supports gun safety legislation to help address this important public health issue.  They believe that common sense steps, such as banning assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition can save lives. 

While the effects of unintended firearm discharge can be deadly, these events can be prevented. Gun safety is important knowledge for parents who own guns, parents who do not own guns, and for anyone who wants to help keep our communities safe.   

If you have concerns regarding your child’s safety, mental or physical health, reach out to your pediatrician for support.

For more information about how to keep your child safe from injury from guns, call the Injury Free Coalition for Kids, a program of the Children’s Trust, at 305-243-9080 or visit www.injuryfree.org.

Expert Contributors

Written by:

Julia Belkowitz, M.D., M.P.H.

Kathleen Kelly, M.D., M.P.H.

Lyse Deus, M.Ed.

Oneith Cadiz, M.D.

Originally published on: June 17, 2022

Tags: Dr. Julie Belkowitz, Dr. Kathleen Kelly, Dr. Oneith Cadiz, firearm injuries, gun safety, gun violence, kids and guns