Health

For Providers: Gun Safety Resources and Education

As a healthcare provider, you can help prevent firearm-related deaths by including gun safety conversation during patient visits.

The links below will take you to resources that provide clinical tools and talking points to use when talking with patients about firearm safety

Clinical Tools for Preventing Firearm Injuries: This is a comprehensive website for clinicians and medical educators committed to firearm injury prevention.

Preventing Firearm Injury: What Clinicians Can Do

  • FREE one hour course which focuses on where clinicians can help reduce the risk of firearm-related injury and death

How to Counsel: Learn how to assess risk, talk with patients about access to firearms, and intervene appropriately.

Clinical Scenarios: Learn who is at risk for firearm-related harm and what you can do.

Questions You Can Use to Start the Gun Safety Conversation with Patients

Question: "If you have any firearms at home, are they stored unloaded and locked?"

  • If "No", recommend safe storage. Keep firearms unloaded and locked. Recommend that ammunition be stored separately. Screen for situations that might place family members at high risk of injury despite safe storage (such as adolescent in home, family member(s) who are depressed or suicidal), and make appropriate recommendations.
  • If "Yes", reinforce the choice to keep firearms unloaded and locked. Check that ammunition is stored separately. Screen for situations that might place family members at high risk of injury despite safe storage (such as adolescent in home, family member(s) who are depressed or suicidal), and make appropriate recommendations.

Question: "Before you send your child to someone's house, do you ask if firearms are in the home and are stored unloaded and locked?"

  • If "No", provide the parent tips for talking about gun safety (link to parents’ resources page)
  • If "Yes", reinforce decision to talk with other families and friends.
     Source: ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Campaign

Training Opportunities for Providers

Patient Education Materials