One-third of American families reside in a home with a gun. Nearly one and a half million children live in a home with a loaded, unlocked gun.
The result? Injuries and death.
Your pediatrician isn’t judging you when asking about household guns. Pediatricians advise on many ways to keep your child safe, from sunscreen and vaccines to health checks and car seats. Children are curious, and there is a good chance your child knows how to access the gun.
ASK Day (June 21) builds awareness around guns in the home. ASK stands for: Asking Saves Kids. When you have a playdate, ask if there is an unlocked gun in the house. Guns should be stored, unloaded, in a safe. The key should be stashed separately.
Setting up a Playdate
When you set up a playdate, you need to ask about safety concerns. Trampolines, swimming pools, and food allergies are all important to address. It’s your right to say you aren’t comfortable sending your child to someone else’s house. You can invite their child to come to your home. Have discussions with your child about your safety rules.
Listen as Dr. Jaime Friedman joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss the importance of ASK Day and keeping your child safe on playdates.
Selected Podcast
Encore Episode: Gun Safety, ASK Day & Coordinating a Playdate
Featuring:
Jaime Friedman, MD, FAAP, is currently a primary care pediatrician at Children's Primary Care Medical Group in San Diego, CA. She is the Lead Physician of her office and is a member of her group's Board of Directors. Prior to working at CPCMG, Dr. Friedman worked for two years in the Emergency Department at Rady Children's Hospital.
When Dr. Friedman is not seeing patients, she is busy working on marketing and social media. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Council on Communications and Media and blogs at www.drjaimefriedman.com. She is also a graduate of the Mayo Clinic Social Media Residency.
Dr. Friedman grew up in Baltimore, MD. After four years at the University of Rochester for her undergraduate degree, she returned home to attend medical school at the University of Maryland. She did her pediatrics residency at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, OR.
Jaime Friedman, MD
Jaime Friedman, MD, FAAP, is currently a primary care pediatrician at Children's Primary Care Medical Group in San Diego, CA. She is the Lead Physician of her office and is a member of her group's Board of Directors. Prior to working at CPCMG, Dr. Friedman worked for two years in the Emergency Department at Rady Children's Hospital.When Dr. Friedman is not seeing patients, she is busy working on marketing and social media. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Council on Communications and Media and blogs at www.drjaimefriedman.com. She is also a graduate of the Mayo Clinic Social Media Residency.
Dr. Friedman grew up in Baltimore, MD. After four years at the University of Rochester for her undergraduate degree, she returned home to attend medical school at the University of Maryland. She did her pediatrics residency at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, OR.