Every day, children are injured or killed by guns in this country. As a public health epidemic, gun violence is preventable using clinical and public health approaches that combine sensible policy, improved surveillance, research to identify best practices, and evidence-informed cross-sectoral primary prevention and intervention efforts.
Gun Safety and Injury Prevention Overview
For over 30 years, the American Academy of Pediatrics has developed and published position statements with recommended public policy and clinical approaches to reduce the incidence of firearm injuries in children and adolescents and to reduce the effects of gun violence. These serve as the foundation for AAP advocacy efforts at the federal level, and as guideposts for AAP chapters across the United States in their local and state policy and programmatic initiatives. In addition, the AAP has developed clinician and parent education resources and implementation programs to not only support violence prevention but also to promote resilience in children and adolescents.
AAP Recommendations
The AAP provides recommendations and guidance to support pediatricians and other health care professionals working with families to prevent firearm-related injuries and deaths.
Firearm-Related Injuries Affecting the Pediatric Population
Role of the Pediatrician in Youth Violence Prevention
Facts and Statistics
Quick Facts
- In 2020, firearm-related injuries became the leading cause of death for US children and teens aged 1-19.
- About one third of American children live in homes with firearms, and of these households, 43% contain at least 1 unlocked firearm. Thirteen percent (13%) of households with guns contain at least 1 firearm that is unlocked and loaded or stored with ammunition.
- Suicide attempts involving a firearm are more often fatal (91%) compared with those involving drug overdoses (23%). Over 80% of child firearm suicides involved a gun belonging to a family member.
- Like counseling on seat belt use or pool safety, counseling parents on firearm ownership and safe storage practices is important and helps mitigate the risk of death and injury to children.
- In controlled studies, individuals who received physician counseling were more likely to report the adoption of 1 or more safe gun-storage practices.
By the time they complete residency training, most pediatricians have direct experience treating gun injuries.
- 69% of 2018 graduates reported treating a gun injury in training.
- 41% treated five or more children with gun injuries and 18% treated 10 or more injuries.
- 90% agree that pediatricians should ask about the presence of guns in the home.
- 96% agree pediatricians should ask parents to unload/lock guns.
According to the 2019 AAP Periodic Survey:
- 14% of AAP members in direct patient care reported they had treated or consulted on a gun injury in the past year.
- 92% of AAP members identified violence prevention as a priority for pediatricians.
- 95% of AAP members said that pediatricians should ask parents with firearms to unload and lock them away.
- 78% of AAP members said they believe that anticipatory guidance about gun injury prevention can help to reduce gun injury.
WISQAR Data Trends
The AAP research team has complided powerpoint slides to reflect the most current youth suicide and firearm fatality data.
Suicide Trend Firearm Fatality Trend
Professional Tools & Resources
Safer: Storing Firearms Prevents Harm Video Series
A video series designed to support health professionals help families take steps towards safer storage.
Safer: Storing Firearms Prevents Harm Course
The following course developed in partnership with Vanderbilt University Medical Center is designed to support healthcare providers on how to effectively counsel their patient families about firearm safe storage in the home.
CALM for Pediatric Providers: Counseling on Access to Lethal Means to Prevent Youth Suicide Course
Firearm suicide has had a devastating impact on American youth. But suicide, including firearm suicide, can be prevented. This course focuses on how to connect with gun-owning families so that conversations about safeguarding guns is comfortable, practical, and leads to safer outcomes for youth.
Promoting Firearm Injury Prevention & Patient Safety in the Emergency Department
The Emergency Department provides care for patients with known preventable injuries such as those caused by a firearm. To address this widespread phenomenon, the Emergency Nurses Association in partnership with American Academy of Pediatrics developed a package of educational offerings focused on strategies to improve safety in this patient population.
AAP Gun Safety Campaign & Toolkit
The AAP has assembled a collection or tools and resources that can help promote safe storage practices.
Families and Communities
Guns in the Home
Nearly 2 million children live in homes with unlocked, loaded guns. This article can be a helpful reminder to the families in your practice of how serious a risk of injury an unlocked gun can be to children.
Is There an Unlocked Gun Where Your Child Plays?
A gun found by a child can change lives forever in just a few moments. Use this article to remind families to ask if there is an unlocked gun in the home where their child is going to visit.
Gun Violence Prevention Advocacy Efforts
Join in AAP advocacy efforts to address gun violence as a public health issue and advance policies that keep children, families and communities safe.
Podcasts and Voices Blogs
Learn what others are saying. Listen to our podcasts and read our blog posts.
Firearm Injuries during the Pandemic, Safe Storage Messaging - Episode 66
In this episode Joanna Cohen, MD, FAAP, shares research from the journal Pediatrics about increased firearm injuries involving the pediatric population during the pandemic. Hosts David Hill, MD, FAAP, and Joanna Parga-Belinkie, MD, FAAP, also talk to Shari Barkin, MD, MSHS, FAAP, about a new AAP training portal designed to help pediatricians counsel families about firearm safety.
Pediatrics on Call
|June 15, 2021
Rethinking Active Shooter Drills in Schools - Episode 91
In this episode David J. Schonfeld, MD, FAAP, founder and director of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement, joins hosts David Hill, MD, FAAP, and Joanna Parga-Belinkie, MD, FAAP, for a discussion about the potential harm of high-intensity “live crisis” drills in schools.
Pediatrics on Call
|November 16, 2021
Common Sense Ways Pediatricians Can help Reduce Firearm Injuries
Learn more about the efforts the AAP is making to keep guns out of the hands of young people and how pediatricians can support a gun sense movement in their communities.
Voices Blog
|June 12, 2019
Keep Guns Out of the Hands of Children
Research shows that a handgun in a home is more likely to injure or kill a family member than to thwart an intruder. Read how this pediatrician recommends to her families to just not have a gun in the house.
Voices Blog
|June 20, 2016
Why Should Pediatricians Ask about Guns in the Home
Pediatricians are at the front line to advocate for firearm injury prevention. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pediatricians routinely discuss firearm safety with patients and families.
Voices Blog
|June 12, 2017
Last Updated
07/27/2022
Source
American Academy of Pediatrics