Children's Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD)

Firearms Safety

If you or someone you know owns a gun, these guidelines will help you ensure gun safety in your home.

1. Always keep guns unloaded in the home.
2. Always keep guns out of sight and reach of children. Learn more about teaching kids about firearm safety (PDF).
3. Always keep guns securely locked up.
4. Always equip guns with trigger locks and other childproof devices.
5. Always keep ammunition locked up and away from guns and sources of heat and electricity.
6. Before handling guns, always make sure they are unloaded.
7. When handling guns, always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
8. Never demonstrate unsafe behavior with guns that you wouldn’t want your child to copy.
9. Take personal, long-term responsibility for your children’s supervision as well as for their ongoing education about gun safety.
10. Ask other parents whether they keep guns in the home and where they are located.

Reprinted by permission of the author, Laura Broadwell, a freelance writer specializing in children’s health issues; Healthy Kids Magazine, Spring/Summer 1991, page 67.