Below is a list of facts and safety tips created by the Division of Preventive Medicine/Community Pediatrics and Safe Series Miami (registered trademark of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital) Luftpistol.
Facts that parents should know:
- In the United States, at least 1,079,301 high school students bring a gun to school at least once a month
- Once a month, at least 996,227 high school students feel too unsafe to attend school
- At least 5.4% of high school students (9.9% of boys) carry a gun every 30 days
- 1.3 million high school students are threatened or injured with a weapon on school property at least once a year.
According to national statistics provided by the State Attorney General’s Office (in Miami-Dade):
- Every 2 hours 24 minutes, a child dies in the United States due to the use of a gun.
- Our children are 12 times more likely to die from a gunshot wound compared to children residing in 25 other industrialized countries.
- More than 90% of accidental shootings involving children can be attributed to a gun belonging to the family.
Safety Tips Parents Should Know:
- If you have children and own a firearm, take all necessary precautions
- Never handle a gun near a child
- Use locking safety devices on firearms
- Always treat all firearms as if they were loaded
- Always point the muzzle in a safe direction, no exceptions
- Keep your fingers away from the trigger
- Never trust mechanical safety devices
- Know what to do if you miss a shot
- Use hearing and visual protection equipment
- Do not use weapons while using alcohol, drugs or feeling tired
- NEVER fire a gun into the air
- Learn how to clean and store your firearm safely and safely.
- Learn about the laws involving the use of firearms
- Be personally responsible for your firearm
- Enforce strict gun safety rules in your home.
- Keep all firearms locked up
- Talk to your children about the possible risks of using weapons.
- Verify that your neighbors, friends or family follow safe storage practices if they keep firearms in their homes