Although firearms represent a household hazard for children, it is not clear whether parents who employ general safety practices also exercise safe firearm storage. We explored the association between home safety practices and safe firearm storage. Participants were gun owning parents whose children (< 7 years) were in the pediatric emergency department for non-emergent conditions. Parents completed a questionnaire assessing household injury prevention practices, including gun storage. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted, and chi-square statistics were used to test statistical significance of associations. Of the 165 subjects, 99% had smoke alarms, 83% kept poisons out of reach, 73% had capped electrical outlets, 39% reported storing at least one gun loaded, 45% indicated they kept at least one gun stored without a safety device, and 58% reported not keeping all firearms stored in a locked compartment. In terms of general home safety the majority of parents reported complying with recommended practices. Chi square analysis did not detect any association between general home safety practices and safe firearm storage practices. Parents who otherwise have safe homes may not store their guns in a secure manner. This may be because many parents never receive firearm safety as part of home safety counseling. Fifty-eight percent reported having guns for self-protection and it is probable that parents view guns as contributors to household safety, rather than as hazards. Multifaceted campaigns conducted in various community settings in addition to the inclusion of firearm safety in all clinically-based home safety counseling is needed.
Learning Objectives: 1. Recognize that injury prevention practices are not related to firearm storage practices. 2. Identify types of interventions that will increase safe storage practices among gun owners with children. 3. Develop a method for incorporating firearm counseling into clinical practices
Keywords: Firearms, Injury Prevention
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.