How to Prevent Firearms Related Injuries

Firearms, or guns, cause many accidental injuries and deaths each year. If you own a gun, or if you or people you know spend time around guns, it is very important for you to learn about gun safety. Knowing and practicing rules for gun safety can help prevent injury to yourself and others.

How can firearms affect me or people around me?

If you do not follow rules for gun safety, you could accidentally:

• Kill yourself or someone else.
• Cause damage or serious injury to yourself or other people. The injuries may include:
  • Organ damage or loss of movement in certain parts of the body (paralysis).
  • Hearing loss. The loud noises can damage a person’s ears.
  • Loss of eyesight. Small pieces of an object that you shoot can scatter and hit your eyes or the eyes of others.

Gun injuries often require surgery and hospitalization.

What situations can increase the risk for firearm injuries?

You and others are at higher risk for a firearm-related injury if:

• You are in a home with a gun that is not properly stored and locked.
• You are with someone who has a history of violent or illegal behavior.
• You are with someone who gets angry easily.
• You use alcohol or drugs.
• You are around others who are using alcohol or drugs.

What actions can I take to prevent firearm injuries?

The best way to prevent firearm injuries is to not keep a gun in your home. However, if you do have a gun in your home, store it safely and use it correctly.

Storing your gun

To keep your gun safe when you are not using it:

• Unload your gun before you store it.
• Lock the trigger of the gun when it is unloaded. Store keys for gun locks in a separate place from the gun.
• Store guns in a safe, locked place. Store bullets in a separate place that is also locked.
• Make sure that children cannot reach the gun.

Handling a gun

• Make sure that anyone who can access the gun knows how to use it safely.
• Always unload a gun when it is being handled by you or someone else.
• Always treat any gun as if it is loaded, even if it is unloaded.
• Never point a gun at a person.
• Do not put your finger on the trigger unless you are going to shoot the gun.

Using protective gear

• Always wear eye protection when shooting a gun.
• Always wear hearing protection when shooting a gun.

General instructions

• Do not let someone who is not trained in gun safety use or hold your gun.
• Take a gun safety class and learn how to use a gun correctly.
• Always read the manual that comes with your gun.
• Regularly clean your gun and check that it works correctly.
• Never handle a gun if you have used drugs or alcohol.
• If you are going to a home where you know there is a gun:
  • Make sure the gun is safely stored and locked.
  • Tell someone if the gun makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

Where to find more information

Learn more about gun safety and preventing firearms-related injuries from:

• The National Shooting Sports Foundation: www.nssf.org  
• The National Crime Prevention Council: www.safefirearmsstorage.org  

Summary

• The best way to prevent firearms-related injuries is to not keep firearms in the home.
• If you do have a gun in your home, store it safely and use it correctly.
• Take a safety course to educate yourself about safe gun use.
• Always treat a gun as if it is loaded, but never load it unless you are going to shoot it.