Funded Projects

Firearm Screening in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients

Project Year

2026

City & State

Little Rock, Arkansas

Program Name

Implementation

Topic

Firearm Safety

Program Description

The problem-  Firearm-related injuries have been steadily increasing in the pediatric population since 2013 and surpassed motor vehicle accidents to become the leading cause of death in 2020. Households with firearms that are not safely stored are associated with increased risk of childhood firearm injury death. Arkansas ranks amongst the highest for number of deaths in children ages 1-19 due to firearm injury of any intent. Approximately 57% of households in Arkansas own a firearm. Thus, it is imperative to screen for safe firearm storage during any visit within the healthcare system. Safe firearm storage screening is a common practice in the outpatient setting, but there is limited data on screening during hospitalizations. One barrier that hinders families to safely store a firearm is the inability to purchase safety products. The Safety Zone is a community space in Little Rock, Arkansas that provides common injury risk information and related safety products at no cost to families. However, this resource is currently underutilized likely related to lack of knowledge of its existence. My pilot project focus is twofold- to determine if families with a child admitted for a non-trauma related primary diagnosis are open/receptive to receiving safe firearm storage screening and firearm-related injury prevention education as well as to promote use of the Safety Zone for families to obtain additional safety education and provisions. The former will be accomplished by administering an initial screening survey, distributing firearm locks, and distributing an educational handout about safe firearm storage during hospitalization followed by a second survey via telephone call after discharge to assess if the resources and education received were beneficial. The latter will be accomplished by providing families with information about the Safety Zone with a strong recommendation to seek out other resources and education available there.  

Primary setting-  The initial survey, education, and distribution of firearm locks will take place in non-ICU patient rooms located within Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH). Families will also be encouraged to visit the Safety Zone, which is located on ACH campus.   Number of children affected-  Based on prior admission data, >200 families will be screened.   Project goal-  The project goal is to increase screening for safe storage of firearms during non-trauma related hospitalizations, to distribute firearm locks to families, and to promote use of the Safety Zone.  

Proposed intervention-  The interventions will include conducting an initial screening survey, providing firearm locks to families, providing verbal and written educational information about safe storage of firearms, and providing information about the Safety Zone during hospitalization followed by a post-discharge survey via telephone call.  

Anticipated outcomes-  The primary outcomes are 1) the percent of families utilizing the firearm lock distributed during hospitalization and 2) caregivers' responses on post-discharge survey if they thought that the education and resources they received during hospitalization were beneficial. The secondary outcomes include if families received any additional resources from the Safety Zone, what they are, and if they are being utilized. 

Project Goal

To increase the number of households who practice safe storage of firearms in order to decrease the number of firearm-related injuries in the pediatric population

Project Objective 1

By the end of June 2027, 200 families with a child ages 0-21 years old admitted to Arkansas Children's Hospital Pediatric Hospital Medicine service for a non-trauma related principal diagnosis will be screened for safe firearm storage and receive education regarding the importance of safe firearm storage practices.

Project Objective 2

By the end of June 2027, 40% of families with a child ages 0-21 years old admitted to Arkansas Children's Hospital Pediatric Hospital Medicine service for a non-trauma related principal diagnosis who were not safely storing firearms on initial screening will begin to safely store their firearm with a firearm lock. 

Project Objective 3

By the end of June 2027, 20% of families with a child ages 0-21 years old admitted to Arkansas Children's Hospital Pediatric Hospital Medicine service for a non-trauma related principal diagnosis who were screened for safe firearm storage will go to the Safety Zone.

AAP District

District VII

Institutional Name

Arkansas Children's Hospital

Contact 1

Brittany McWatters, MD

Contact 2

Katherine Tang, MD