June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month, and with the school year ending and Summer Break beginning, it’s the perfect time for physicians and Advance Practice Providers (APPs) to consider their role in educating patients and families about firearm safety. As clinicians, we routinely counsel our patients on ways to live safer and healthier lives. Firearm safety and injury prevention education is another vital way we can serve our patients and our communities.
Finding Common Ground in Firearm Safety
Many clinicians have yet to receive training on how to broach the subject of firearm safety with their patients. With new safe storage laws recently going into effect in the State of Michigan, we have a timely opportunity to open this critical conversation.
A helpful resource to start with is this video from the New England Journal Medical Group. It emphasizes establishing a shared goal of safety between clinicians and parents, which can make the discussion more effective.
This video from the New England Journal Medical Group is a helpful place to start.
“Parents really want their child to be safe, that’s their driving motivation. We also want children to be safe. So, establishing that shared goal and value at the beginning goes really, really far.
In my own experience, I’ve found the most effective way to begin is by finding common ground.
Educating Patients About Gun Locks
When I was growing up, firearms were often stored in unlocked wooden and glass cabinets. A lot has changed since then. Gun locks are now widely available in various shapes and sizes to fit nearly every firearm imaginable. As clinicians, educating patients about the benefits of gun locks, their proper use, and where to find them is an important and tangible action we can take.
In March of this year, Trinity Health Muskegon, in collaboration with the Muskegon Police Department, began offering free gun locks to residents of Muskegon County, Michigan. Although this program has ended, patients can still obtain free gun locks by visiting www.storeitsafemuskegon.org.
Proper Use of Gun Locks
Safety devices, like bicycle helmets, seat belts, and car seats, are only effective if used properly. The same is true with gun locks. However, many people have never used a gun lock.
Trinity Health Muskegon Injury Prevention Coordinator Holly Alway and retired Norton Shores Police Chief Jon Gale created a series of short videos with simple instructions on how to use the locks appropriately. The following video gives tips on how to properly place a lock on a pistol or a revolver.
Holly and Chief Gale have also created similar educational videos for properly placing gunlocks on rifles and shotguns.
Additional Opportunities & Resources
In addition to the resources listed above, I recommend physicians consider completing the free Amercian Medical Association Continuing Medical Education Program, “The Physicians Role in Promoting Firearm Safety” and review the wide range of educational materials available online at The Bullet Points Project. For patients I recommend the University of Michigan Injury Prevention Center’s free, “Parent’s Guide to Home Firearm Safety” flyer.
As clinicians, let’s roll up our sleeves and do our part to educate parents and children about the importance of firearm safety. By doing so, we will help create safer and healthier communities for all of us.
Acknowledgements:
I hope you’ve found this information, factsheets and videos helpful. I would like to thank the University of Michigan Injury Prevention Center for creating the factsheet, Jon Gale and Holly Alway for producing the educational videos, and Holly for her ongoing work in the firearm safety space.