#United States #Chicago #Ad Council #firearm safety #American Medical Association

The New Digital Resource Hub for Firearm Injury Prevention

In a significant step toward addressing the alarming issue of firearm injuries among children and teens, the American Medical Association (AMA) has partnered with the Ad Council and a coalition of healthcare leaders to unveil a new digital resource hub. As firearm injuries remain the leading cause of death for this vulnerable demographic in the United States, the initiative seeks to empower healthcare professionals with vital tools for discussing firearm safety with patients and their families.

The resource hub, created through the efforts of AMA's Firearm Injury Prevention Task Force, is part of the national "Agree to Agree" campaign. It can be accessed at AgreeToAgree.org/HealthCare. This hub provides an array of materials including informative videos, fact sheets, conversation guides, and toolkits designed to help clinicians confidently engage in conversations about the risks associated with unsecured firearms and the importance of secure storage practices.

Bridging the Conversation Gap

Despite the critical nature of this topic, surveys reveal that many patients do not discuss firearm safety with their physicians. Alarmingly, 86% of adults report never being asked by their healthcare providers whether there are firearms in their homes. This oversight is concerning, especially given that studies highlight a direct correlation between these conversations and the adoption of safer storage practices.

Dr. Toluwalase A. Ajayi, the AMA Board Chair-elect, emphasizes the necessity of addressing firearm safety in routine healthcare conversations.