In 2021, over 48,000 Americans died from firearm injuries. One out of every three U.S. households have access to firearms, which significantly increases the risk of firearm-related homicides, suicides and unintentional injuries. But you can help save a life and avoid injuries by reframing gun violence as a public health issue, and asking your friends, family and community members simple questions about firearm access and risk factors. Simply asking offers an opportunity for dialogue and education—and normalizing conversations about guns. This in turn helps destigmatize the topic, raise public awareness of the dangers of firearms and promote firearm safety.

Here’s what you can do to prevent firearm injuries and keep your children, family and community safe:

1. Learn the Warning Signs: Healthcare providers can learn about behavior that indicates when someone may be at risk for violence or self-harm.
   1. Sudden changes in mood or behavior.
   2. Talking about harming themselves or others.
   3. Access to firearms combined with emotional stress.
   4. History of violence, threats, or domestic conflicts and/or abuse.
2. Ask about access to guns and whether they are safely stored: Talking to friends and family members about guns in the home is an important, simple step you can take to help keep your child and community safe. Having firearms safely stored significantly decreases the risk of firearm injury.
   1. Store guns locked, unloaded.
   2. Keep ammunition locked separately.
   3. Use gun locks or safes.
   4. Educate family members about gun safety.
3. Start Conversations: Let’s talk about gun violence in a non-judgmental way.
   1. Talk to children about gun safety.
   2. Ask about guns and gun safety and storage when kids are visiting another home.
   3. Talk with friends and family about concerns.
4. Improve awareness of suicide and crisis support services: Often, we don’t know how much our family members, friends or neighbors are struggling. Resources such as the national 9-8-8 suicide and crisis lifeline are available to offer 24/7 support for those in need. Making your community aware of this support can save a life.
5. Support local community violence intervention programs: Gun violence has many root causes and disproportionally impacts communities of color. Community violence intervention programs deter at-risk youth from engaging in gun-related violence and offer trauma-informed care services aimed at preventing future gun violence.
   1. Attend community violence prevention events.
   2. Volunteer with local youth committees.
   3. Participate in local neighborhood safety coalitions.
   4. Support hospital-based intervention programs.
6. If You Are a Healthcare Professional:
   1. Screen patients and family for violence risk.
   2. Provide Trauma-informed care.
   3. Counsel patients on safe storage.
   4. Refer for our resource guide to referral sources.