In 2020, guns became the leading cause of death for kids in the U.S. – surpassing, for the first time, motor vehicle accidents in that heartbreaking statistic. Yet parents, who don’t hesitate to urge kids to buckle up, understandably find it awkward or even unthinkable to ask others if there are loaded and unlocked guns in their homes.
It’s time to normalize that conversation.
SSM Health is joining hospitals nationwide in a campaign offering tips and urging parents to always ask what could be a lifesaving question. We are called by our faith, and our commitment to preserving the dignity of life, to address the public health crisis of gun violence especially among the most vulnerable.
An estimated 4.6 million kids in the U.S. live with unlocked, loaded guns in the home, according to one survey, despite recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics that all firearms in houses with children be unloaded and kept in locked storage and away from ammunition. Taking those steps would greatly reduce the risk of injury to kids – and asking, parent to parent, if guns are secure provides an important reminder.
As the campaign says: It doesn’t kill to ask.
“We see the effects of gun violence in our emergency departments every day. It’s always tragic, but especially when the victim is a child or teen. It impacts families and communities in ways that go well beyond our hospital walls,” said Dr. Alex Garza, MD, Chief Community Health Officer at SSM Health. “Although we have become very good at treating victims of gun violence, victory is when we can prevent it in the first place – and making sure guns are secured is a critical step.”
Ninety percent of parents said they would want to know if there is an unlocked gun where their kids visit, according to a survey by Northwell Health. And 97 percent said they would be happy to answer that question from another parent. But only one-third of parents have ever asked the question.
Here are some tips for raising the subject when arranging a play date, or dropping your child off to spend time with a friend or family member:
· Say you are following doctor’s orders – My pediatrician mentioned that guns are the leading cause of death for kids, and urged me to ask friends if there are any unlocked guns in the house when my kids are visiting.
· Say a friend brought up the issue – Another parent recently asked me if any guns in my house were unsecured. They aren’t, but it’s pretty smart to ask. What about in your home?
· Say it’s on your list – There are a few things I always check when dropping off my kids. Do you have any pets? A pool? What are your rules on screen time? Do you have any unlocked guns in the house?
Visit www.HospitalsUnited.com for more, and please join us in reducing injuries and deaths from firearms. Together, as parents and as health care providers, we can fight this health epidemic and save kids’ lives – one question at a time.
