Firearm Injury Prevention and Patient Safety: Online Course-Firearm Safety Infographic

Firearm Safety Infographic - Lock them up for safety

Pdf Summary

Firearm injuries are a major public health issue in the United States. To address this problem, it is important for emergency nurses to ask routine screening questions and promote firearm safety. One effective way to ensure safety is to store firearms in locked firearm vaults or safes. These safes are available in various sizes and can store both long firearms and handguns securely. By keeping firearms unloaded and stored in a locked area, and storing ammunition separately in a locked area, the risk of accidental injuries, self-inflicted injuries, and deaths among children and adolescents can be significantly reduced. Cable locks are inexpensive devices that can be used to block the chamber of a firearm and prevent it from being fired. These locks can be threaded through multiple firearms. Personalized locks, on the other hand, have built-in features such as a key, combination, or biometric system that allows only the owner to access the firearm. Personalized locks are effective in preventing the trigger from being pulled by unauthorized individuals. It is important to note that the information provided in this document is for informational purposes only and should not replace the judgment of a medical practitioner. The instructions and information are subject to change as new advances and recommendations emerge. The Emergency Nurses Association assumes no liability for any injury resulting from the use of this information.

Keywords

firearm injuries

public health

emergency nurses

firearm safety

locked firearm vaults

separate ammunition storage

accidental injuries

personalized locks

unauthorized access prevention

medical practitioner judgment