Gun Safety and Clinical Medicine

What kills more children under age 10: poisons, guns or electrocution? This is Dr. Steven Andrew Davis, Speaking of Health. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, gunshot wounds are second only to car accidents as a cause of fatal injury in children. Which is why these family doctors say that “gun safety in your home is as important as using car seats and seat belts in your car.”

Today 40% of U.S. homes contain one or more firearms; hence, some simple advice from the nation’s family doctors about reducing the risk of gunshot injury. Akin to keeping medicines out of reach of children and locked up, the same applies to guns; especially in homes where there are “family members who are depressed, abusive to others or abusing drugs (including alcohol) or who have Alzheimer’s disease.”

You know the saying, “Just say no” to drugs. The family doctors say to teach your children to remember another set of words if they find a gun, namely, “Stop! Don’t touch! Go away! Tell an adult!”

And a final tip, which may sound simplistic, but is really a key: children learn how to behave by doing what the adults around them are doing. It’s best for the parents to talk peacefully in the home, to solve problems with discussion instead of anger or physical violence, and to treat all people with respect.

For more information about preventing gun violence; a number of national organizations will gladly help. We’ve listed some of them on our web site, www.speakingofhealth.com. Speaking of Health, I’m Dr. Steven Andrew Davis for CBS News.