Firearm injury prevention is important to children’s health and well-being. UW Health supports families with education and resources to keep kids safe from firearm injury.
One of the best things parents and caregivers can do is keep all firearms securely stored so children and others who shouldn’t use them can’t access them, according to Dr. James Bigham, a UW Health family medicine physician and clinical professor of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
“Firearm injuries are the number one cause of death among Wisconsin children,” he said. “Even when not fatal, firearm injuries are often severe and life-altering for the individual and their loved ones. These preventable harms may happen when a child gains access to an unsecured firearm.”
Research shows that storing firearms locked, unloaded and separate from ammunition lowers the risk of accidental injury and death among children and teens. Plus, more than 70% of firearm deaths in Wisconsin and 55% of firearm deaths nationwide are suicides, many occurring during periods of crisis or impulsive decision-making. Secure storage can also create critical time and distance between a teen in distress and a firearm, reducing the risk of a fatal outcome.
At UW Health, our health care team partners with families to help reduce the risk of firearm injury by promoting secure storage and supporting open conversations about responsible firearm safety. We provide free, secure firearm storage devices at our primary care clinics, including family medicine, pediatrics and internal medicine clinics. Devices are also available at the Safety Center at American Family Children’s Hospital and at most of our primary care clinics–including family medicine, pediatrics and internal medicine. These tools help keep firearms secure and out of reach, so families can stay safe at home.
We also encourage parents to talk with other caregivers about keeping firearms secure when their children visit other homes, like a friend’s or family member’s house.
“Just as parents ask about seat belts, pets or pools, asking about firearm storage is another way to look out for a child’s safety,” Bigham said. “These conversations are about prevention and care, not judgment.” UW Health Kids and the American Academy of Pediatrics offer the following tips:
Keep firearms in a locked box or a safe, unloaded
Keep ammunition locked away separately
Talk with other parents or caregivers to make sure firearms are securely stored before your child visits their home. Plan what you will ask in a kind way in advance, and think about how you will respond to what you learn.
Teach children not to touch an unsecured firearm, to consider it loaded, and to tell an adult right away
Keeping kids safe from firearm injuries is important. This work is part of the Community Health Implementation Strategy (CHIS) Plan at UW Health, which aims to help keep our community healthy and safe. We help families learn to secure guns, use safety tools and talk openly about firearm safety. When we work together, we can help keep all kids safe.