Keeping Kids Safe from Gun Accidents: 6 Strategies for Families

Firearms-related injuries are the second-leading cause of death among children — and they’re largely preventable. A researcher offers tips to prevent tragedy at home.

1:00 PM

Author | Lauren Marcy

Nearly 1.7 million children in the U.S. live in a home with a loaded, unlocked firearm. As a result, thousands of children are killed or injured by a firearm each year.

The common thread among these injuries? Many are preventable.

MORE FROM MICHIGAN: Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Fortunately, parents and caregivers can take simple steps to reduce the likelihood of an accidental firearm-related injury at home.

Patrick Carter, M.D., a Michigan Medicine emergency physician and firearm injury prevention researcher, shares his tips for families:

How to prevent gun injuries at home

Eliminate access to guns: "This is the only proven method of preventing accidental firearm injuries is the absence of a firearm from the home," Carter says. Many firearm-related incidents occur simply because a child or group of children stumbled across an unlocked, loaded weapon.

If weapons are removed from the home, a child wouldn't have the opportunity to come into contact with one. Eliminating guns from your home is the only absolute method of preventing such accidents.

Properly store all firearms: If your family has decided to keep guns at home, it's critical they are stored properly. Firearms should be unloaded and secured in a locked gun cabinet. Ammunition should be stored in a separate locked cabinet. Keys to these cabinets should be kept in a place inaccessible to children.

SEE ALSO: Home Alone: Parents More Confident Tweens Could Deal with Fire and Storms Than Guns

Trigger locks or cable locks, which disable the firing mechanism, are an appropriate low-cost alternative. However, a locked firearm cabinet remains the best option for families that decide to keep a firearm at home.

Don't assume hiding your guns is enough: Research has shown that 3 out of 4 children ages 5 to 14 know where firearms are hidden in the home and 1 in 3 have handled a firearm in the home, many without a parent's knowledge. Even if you think you've chosen a hiding spot your children don't know about, they probably know how to find the firearm.

In addition, one-quarter of children as young as 3 have been shown to be strong enough to pull the trigger on a firearm. No age, then, is too young to consider how and where to store firearms safely in the home.

Know the limits of gun-safety education: There are several programs intended to teach children how to safely handle a gun. While such programs may provide a framework for teaching young people about gun safety, research has shown they do little to prevent accidents.

"When a child comes across a gun, their curiosity is likely to overshadow the lessons learned through these programs, and the safety instructions provided in these programs can be hard for children to remember in the moment when faced with the opportunity to play with a loaded weapon," Carter says.

Ask other parents if they have a gun in their home: Before dropping your child off at another home, ask the parents if they have an unlocked gun on the premises. Many gun owners aren't likely to broadcast their ownership, so it's important that parents make a point to ask.

Parents often discuss allergies, pets in the home or other questions about supervision, and adding this question is encouraged. "Is there an unlocked gun in your house?" is a simple question with the power to save lives. The ASK (Asking Saves Kids) campaign offers parents tips to start the conversation.

Be cautious of guns marketed as "childproof": Firearm manufacturers have introduced new technology that is intended to make guns harder for children to operate. While these features have the potential to save lives, they are not foolproof.

Regardless of whether a gun has this technology, firearms should still be properly locked away to prevent child access.


More Articles About: Children's Health Preventing Injury Safety Wellness and Prevention
Health Lab word mark overlaying blue cells
Health Lab

Explore a variety of health care news & stories by visiting the Health Lab home page for more articles.

Media Contact Public Relations

Department of Communication at Michigan Medicine

[email protected]

734-764-2220

Stay Informed

Want top health & research news weekly? Sign up for Health Lab’s newsletters today!

Subscribe
Featured News & Stories Man on couch image
Health Lab
7 Questions All Parents Should Ask Before a Playdate
For playdates, one Michigan Medicine Mott pediatrician advises what every parent should ask to help everyone feel safe and comfortable.
graphic drawing of woman falling and everything is pink and falling and floating with her like dna strands, cars, people, medicine, ID, blood vessels and cells
Health Lab
Why are more young people being diagnosed with cancer?
An article discusses causes of early-onset cancer and ways to reduce your risk.
purple background sky colors with times floating patient with pillow brown clothes on moon in sky
Health Lab
Free course shines light on sleep health
An expert-led course on sleep helps educate students about the importance of creating and maintaining good sleep habits for health and wellness.
teen tossing pills into his mouth burnt orange background and blue shirt
Health Lab
Should teens use protein supplements?
A report highlights that many teens are using protein supplements, particularly protein powders, to improve their athletic performance and build muscle.
young kid coughing
Health Lab
Whooping cough cases are on the rise: 5 things to know
Cases of a bacterial lung infection known as whooping cough, or pertussis, have been on the rise, with more than double the number of cases compared to last year.
three students standing on stairs in Michigan shirts
Health Lab
From babies needing heart surgeries to Michigan Wolverines
After long congenital heart journeys at University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and U-M Health West, three 2024 Grand Rapids area high school graduates are back at University of Michigan: this time, as official Michigan Wolverines.