Gun Safety Info & Tips

September 2021

With hunting season upon us, the Trauma Team at Sheridan Memorial Hospital provides these tips for Gun Safety.

Treat every gun as if it is loaded!
ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction!
ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger and keep the safety on until ready to shoot.
Know your target and what is beyond – Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second.
Know how to use the gun safely – Before handling a gun, learn how it operates. Know its basic parts, how to safely open and close the action and remove any ammunition from the gun or magazine. Remember, a gun’s mechanical safety device is never foolproof. Nothing can ever replace safe gun handling.
Use only the correct ammunition for your gun and wear ear and eye protection as appropriate.
Never use alcohol, over the counter drugs, or prescription drugs before or while shooting.
Keep guns out of the reach and out of sight of children by storing them securely. Leaving guns unsecured – on a nightstand, table, or other place where a child can gain access – can lead to injuries and fatalities.
Store guns unloaded and secured with effective, child-resistant gun locks in a locked container out of the reach and sight of children.
Store ammunition in a separate locked container out of the reach and sight of children.
Use combination locks and safes, or safes that use fingerprint recognition locks. Keep the combinations carefully hidden.
When a gun is not being stored, keep it in your immediate possession and control at all times. Otherwise, store the gun unloaded, locked and separate from ammunition.
If you carry a gun in your car, make sure to outfit your vehicle with a lockable container so you can securely store the gun when you exit the vehicle.
If a visitor has a gun in a backpack, briefcase, handbag or an unlocked car, provide them with a place to store it securely (locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition) while they are in your home.
If a family member or loved one is in crisis and may be a risk to themselves or others, consider temporarily removing firearms from your home. Such crises can involve people who are depressed, suicidal, or abusing drugs or alcohol.