Background
Firearm injuries in the United States are a public health problem and the leading cause of death in children and teens in the country.1 As with other health issues, the healthcare sector is an important part of the ecosystem working to prevent firearm-related injuries and reinjuries.2
Most people who are injured or die from firearm-related injuries have had contact with healthcare providers. The majority require emergency care3,4 and survivors often need ongoing, extended services for wound care, physical rehabilitation, and mental health support. About 9 in 10 people who die by suicide had a healthcare visit in the year before their death.5 Each of these healthcare contacts is an opportunity to prevent injury and reinjury.
The Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research and Education developed this library to maximize the healthcare sector's role in preventing firearm injuries and promote healthcare-based solutions. The goal is to share resources and build awareness about promising healthcare-based strategies to prevent firearm injuries among healthcare providers, advocates, and/or potential funders.
How to Use this Library
This online library highlights promising healthcare-based interventions to prevent firearm-related injuries. It provides examples of strategies connected to healthcare settings that promote the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities by addressing the factors that increase the risk for firearm injury and/or death.
While the interventions in this library are presented individually, many are interlinked and often work best when implemented simultaneously as part of a system-wide approach to preventing firearm injury. They span from primary to tertiary prevention, require varying levels of resources, and are implemented in multiple healthcare settings by staff with different training and skills. These details are outlined for each intervention. While evaluation metrics, costs, and human resources are important to consider before adopting any intervention, these are not discussed here.
Even though this library mainly focuses on firearm suicide and community violence, many of the interventions described are also relevant to unintentional firearm injury prevention, particularly among children. Of note, this library is not intended to be an all-inclusive and immutable resource. We hope to update it over time with new features and strategies.
For suggestions or more information about this library, please contact the Center.