FIREARM SAFETY FOR CHILDREN - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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FIREARM SAFETY FOR CHILDREN

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While the step-father went to check on the targets, he heard a shot go off. ... He was shot in the chest and died on the way to the hospital. ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: FIREARM SAFETY FOR CHILDREN


1
FIREARM SAFETY FOR CHILDREN
  • Information and Prevention

April 2009
2
Training Objectives
  • Recognize the importance of firearm safety.
  • Identify ways parents and adults can keep
    children safe from firearms.
  • Identify what a child can do if they see a gun,
    and be able to teach these steps to a child.

3
Firearm Use
  • Mishandling or playing with guns can lead to
    tragedy. With appropriate care, maintenance and
    securing of firearms, deaths due to accidental
    firearm injuries should never occur.

4
Statistics
  • In the United States, about 100 children (through
    17 years of age) die each year from unintentional
    shootings. Almost five times as many are
    wounded.
  • Boys are far more likely to be victims of
    unintentional firearm deaths than girls.
  • In the United States, 70 of the unintentional
    firearm shootings involved handguns.

5
  • Most unintentional childhood shooting deaths
    involve guns kept in the home that have been left
    loaded and accessible to children.
  • Unintentional shootings among children most often
    occur when children are unsupervised and out of
    school.
  • Children as young as 3-years old are strong
    enough to pull the trigger of many handguns
    available in the United States.

6
  • Nearly two-thirds of parents with school-age
    children, who have guns in their home, believe
    that the firearm is safe from their children.
    One study found that when a gun was in the home,
    75-80 of first and second graders knew where the
    gun was kept.

7
Missouri Child Firearm Deaths
  • In 2008, seven Missouri children died as a result
    of unintentional firearm injuries.
  • Of the seven unintentional firearm deaths
    reviewed by Child Fatality Review Program Panels
    in 2008, four involved a gun that was owned by a
    family member.
  • All seven of the Missouri children who died as a
    result of unintentional firearm injury in 2008,
    were killed with a gun that was accessible to
    children or not locked or securely stored.

8
  • In 2008, five of the seven child victims of
    unintentional shootings were male and two were
    female.
  • In 2008, six of the seven unintentional firearm
    deaths among children involved handguns. One
    involved a shotgun.

9
  • Two boys had been shooting at groundhogs. A
    12-year old left the loaded gun on his bed, while
    his friend was jumping on the bed. The gun went
    off, striking the 12-year old, who suffered
    massive internal injuries.
  • While preparing for a hunting trip, a father left
    a handgun on a kitchen counter where he believed
    it would not be accessible. A 2-year old climbed
    on a chair, got the gun and shot himself while
    playing.

10
  • Two boys were pretending to shoot at each other,
    when one shot the other in the temple with a .38
    caliber derringer.

11
What Can Parents Do To Keep Their Kids Safe?
  • Parents who own guns should always store firearms
    unloaded and locked up. Ammunition should be
    locked in a separate location, out of the
    childrens reach. Gun locks, load indicators and
    other safety devices should be used on all
    firearms.

12
Keep Children Safe
  • Parents should teach their children the
    difference between a toy gun and real gun.
  • When children see someone on television being
    killed, they need to be taught the difference
    between a television death and a real life
    death.
  • (National Rifle Association)
  • Safety lessons that explain the rules for gun
    safety should be done openly with time for the
    child to ask questions.

13
  • If your child is 11-years old or older, and
    expresses an interest in hunting, enroll them in
    a Hunter Education Safety Course. Missouri
    mandates Hunter Education Programs for anyone
    born on or after January 1, 1967. Hunter
    Education Programs teach participants how to
    handle firearms safely at home and while hunting.
    For more information, access the Missouri
    Department of Conservations website at
    http//mdc.mo.gov/hunt/heclass-search.html

14
Ten Commandments of Gun Safety
  • Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe
    direction.
  • Guns should be unloaded when not actually in use.
  • Don't rely on the gun's "safety". Treat every
    gun as if it can fire at any time.
  • Be sure of the target and what's beyond it.
  • Use correct ammunition.

15
  • If the gun fails to fire when the trigger is
    pulled, HANDLE WITH CARE.
  • Always wear eye and ear protection when shooting.
  • Be sure the barrel is clear of obstructions
    before shooting.
  • Don't alter or modify the gun. Do have the gun
    serviced regularly.

16
  • Learn the mechanical and handling characteristics
    of the firearm used. Do not use any firearm that
    you have not had adult instruction in handling.
  • (Missouri Department of Conservation)

17
If Children See A Gun
  • Stop!
  • Dont touch the gun.
  • Leave the area where the gun is located.
  • Go tell an adult about the gun.
  • (National Rifle Association, Eddie Eagle Program)

18
For More Information
  • National Rifle Association, Gun Safety Rules
    http//www.nrahq.org/education/guide.asp
  • National Rifle Association, Eddie Eagle Gun
    Safety Program http//www.nrahq.org/safety/eddie/
    index.asp
  • Kids Health, Gun Safety http//kidshealth.org/ki
    d/watch/house/gun_safety.html
  • Project Child Safe http//www.projectchildsafe.or
    g/

19
Missouri Department of Social Services State
Technical Assistance Team
  • Address
  • PO Box 208Jefferson City, MO 65102-0208
  • Telephone (573) 751-5980(800) 487-1626(8 a.m.
    to 5 p.m. CST, Monday Friday)
  • Email
  •  dls.stat_at_dss.mo.gov
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