Comparison of Two Programs to Teach Firearm Injury Prevention Skills to 6- and 7-Year-Old Children

• DOI: 10.1542/peds.2003-0635-l
• Publication Date: 2004-11-05T17:23:17Z
• Authors: Brian J. Gatheridge; Raymond G. Milten...; Daniel F. Huneke; Melisa J. Satterlund; Amanda R. Mattern; Brigette M. Johnson; Christopher A. Fl...
• Keywords: Male; Firearms; Teaching; 05 social sciences; Child Behavior; Play and Playthings; 3. Good health; Humans; Female; Wounds, Gunshot; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; Safety; Child; Role Playing

Background. Each year, hundreds of children unintentionally kill or injure other while playing with firearms in the United States. Although numbers these deaths and injuries are distressing, few prevention programs have been developed to prevent gun play among children. Objective. This study compared efficacy 2 designed young Design. A posttest-only, control group design treatment groups was used. Children were randomly assigned 1 a group. For all who did not exhibit skills after training, situ (ie, real-life situation) training session conducted. Setting. Participant recruitment, sessions, assessments conducted children’s after-school program facility. Participants. Forty-five children, 6 7 years age, recruited for participation. Interventions. The Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program, by National Rifle Association, behavioral that emphasized use instruction, modeling, rehearsal, feedback evaluated. Main Outcome Measures. criterion firearm safety behaviors included both motor verbal responses, which assessed naturalistic setting then numerical value based on scale 0 3. Results. Both effective teaching verbalize message (don’t touch gun, get away, tell an adult). However, received significantly more likely demonstrate desired role-playing than training. In addition, found be Conclusions. Injury using education-based learning materials less skills, incorporating active approaches (eg, feedback). types injury could enhanced program, when implemented 6- 7-year-old skills.