Public Health Approach to Addressing Gun Violence

Every day, hospitals and health systems across the country respond to the health care injuries caused by gun violence. Gun violence has a significant health care dimension and as cornerstones of your communities, hospital and health system leaders have the unique authority to lead initiatives to reduce the risk for violence and advocate for advancing health. We need to work together to ensure our communities and workplaces are safe. To that end, the AHA’s Hospitals Against Violence developed and curated resources and insights to advance the field’s efforts to combat this public health issue.

Hospitals United is a national public awareness campaign launched by Northwell Health to encourage parents to ask family and friends if firearms are safely stored in their home. The campaign’s broadcast, print and digital public service messages and website highlight that access to unlocked guns can lead to death, suicide and gun violence, making it more likely that children die from guns than cancer or automobile accidents. The website provides tips on how to have a conversation with other parents about safely stored firearms and encourages parents and caregivers to normalize this conversation.