The prevention of firearm injuries in Canadian Youth

Question 1

What are recommendations for the clinician re: prevention of firearm injuries?

Answer 1

1. firearms shouldn’t be present in homes or environments that children/adolescents live & play
   
   • if present, must be stored according to regulations of Canada’s Firearms Act: unloaded, locked, separate from ammunition
2. Ask routinely about firearms in home and inform parents of risks of home ownership if present
   
   • highlight developmental characteristics that make children & youth vulnerable to death by firearm
3. Screen for presence of firearms for children with or at risk of mood disorders, substance abuse issues, self-harming behaviours (including hx suicide attempt).
   
   • recommend removal of firearms
4. If concern for intimate partner or family violence: ask about firearms
   
   • if present, recommend removal
5. Inform parents nonpowder firearms (air guns, BB guns) are dangerous; children & adolescents should not use unless supervised by adult
   
   • paintball and airsoft guns must be used only in supervised arenas with safety gear
6. Nonpowder firearms: pellets can cause significant internal injury

Question 2

What are recommendations for government re: firearms?

Answer 2

To reduce availability of firearms to youth:

• reduce illegal importation of firearms into Canada (especially from USA)
• tighter restrictions on semiautomatic (military stile) firearms; use increases lethality of mass shooting incidents
• evidence-based, appropriately funded gang prevention initiatives in communities where youth are at high risk of gang involvement
• research on RF for targeted school violence
  
  • evidence based programs to prevent bullying and improve access to mental health services
• Classify air guns & BB guns whose projectile velocity is great enough to cause eye or skin penetration as firearms under Canada’s Firearms Act