Injury prevention program development driven by top-down commitment to distribute firearm safety kits in a large metropolitan area

Sarah Beth Abbott, BS, EMT-LP

Firearm injury is a leading and preventable cause of death for adolescence in the United States. Our region, which encompasses several large metropolitan areas, is particularly concerning for injuries and fatalities caused by firearms. In response to the crossing of the lines of the Center for Disease Controls and Prevention mortality data, validation of local TraumaBase© Registry System data, and increased prevalence of school shootings, our President and Chief Executive Officer, of one of the largest not-for-profit health systems, publicly pledged to provide thousands of firearm safety kits to individuals and families in our community. The Level I Pediatric Trauma Center Injury Prevention and Outreach Education Coordinator was then delegated by leadership to develop a program that is committed to reducing injuries and death from firearms by increasing awareness and education of protective measures and risk factors.

The Injury Prevention Coordinator utilized a systematic approach in developing a firearm safety kit distribution program that would be ideal for the 11-hospital system in the large metropolitan area. The coordinator used the five core components of Model Level I and Level II Trauma Center injury and violence prevention programs: Leadership, Resources, Data, Effective Interventions and Partnerships. Literature review and Logic Model development were significant early in the process. Recruitment of key champions, content experts, system communications/public relations, material management and marketing for the project occurred during 7/2022-12/2022 with kit distribution during 1/2023-4/2023. Evaluation design included mixed-methods approach with data collected from champions after the 22 specific interventions for quantitative and qualitative data.

In a mere 94 calendar days, the injury prevention champions vested into this firearm safety kit project, disseminated 10,000 kits into the metropolitan community at 22 unique locations during outreach events. Outreach events included internal (hospital locations) and external (community partners, art/health fairs, major sporting events, standing hemorrhage control courses and health clinics). Firearm safety kit contents included: Master Lock Cable Lock, Babysitter Information Tear Pad (asking if there is an unlocked gun in the home?), 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Flyer and Fact Sheet: Firearm Injury Prevention Education for Parents (English/Spanish).

With using injury prevention core components, thorough program planning, having transparent conversations and keen diligence of all stakeholders led to a plan that can be replicated in large metropolitan areas when top-down decisions arise. The project also resulted in establishing the foundation and support of a more robust firearm safety program within the large not-for-profit health system in the future.

1. Discuss the five core components of Model Level I and Level II Trauma center injury and violence prevention program.
2. Understand the importance of logic model development in a firearm safety kit distribution program.
3. Recognize the significance of collaboration and community resources in relation to firearm safety.