Chapter 9: Administration
9.2 Policies
9.2.3 Health Policies
9.2.3.16: Policy Prohibiting Firearms
Centers should have a written policy prohibiting firearms, ammunition, and ammunition supplies.
Large or small family homes should have a written policy that if firearms and other weapons are present, they should:
- Have child protective devices;
- Be unloaded or disarmed;
- Be kept under lock and key;
- Be inaccessible to children.
For large and small family homes the policy should include that ammunition and ammunition supplies should be:
- Placed in locked storage;
- Separate from firearms;
- Inaccessible to children.
Parents/guardians should be notified that firearms and other weapons are on the premises.
RATIONALE
The potential for injury to and death of young children due to firearms is apparent (1-3). These items should not be accessible to children in a facility (2,3).TYPE OF FACILITY
Center, Early Head Start, Head Start, Large Family Child Care Home, Small Family Child Care HomeREFERENCES
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Injury and Poison Prevention. 2004. Policy statement: Firearm-related injuries affecting the pediatric population. Pediatrics 114:1126.
- DiScala, C., R. Sege. 2004. Outcomes in children and young adults who are hospitalized for firearms-related injuries. Pediatrics 113:1306-12.
- Grossman, D. C., B. A. Mueller, C. Riedy, et al. 2005. Gun storage practices and risk of youth suicide and unintentional firearm injuries. JAMA 296:707-14.