New Orleans Health Department & Children’s Hospital Launch Be SMART program to promote responsible gun ownership to protect kids and reduce child firearm death and injury in New Orleans

By partnering with the Be SMART program and distributing free gun locks for the community, Children’s Hospital and the Health Department aim to reduce gun injuries in children, the leading cause of death for kids in Louisiana.

NEW ORLEANS – Guns are the leading cause of death for kids under 18 in Louisiana and across the United States. Today, Children’s Hospital New Orleans and the New Orleans Health Department are taking action by partnering with Be SMART to urgently educate the community about responsible gun ownership to protect kids and reduce child firearm deaths. Be SMART is a national program designed to help parents and adults normalize conversations about gun safety and take responsible actions to prevent child gun deaths and injuries. ​​

Today, 4.6 million children across the United States live in homes with at least one gun that is loaded and unlocked. Each year in the US, 350 children gain access to a firearm and unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else—sometimes fatally. And more than 700 children die by suicide with a gun each year.

"For years, our health care providers have cared for thousands of New Orleanians with gunshot wounds, and every one is devastating," said Jennifer Avegno, MD, Director of the New Orleans Health Department. "As adults, we're responsible for keeping our children safe. That's why it is crucial for us to store guns securely if we have them – and encourage friends and neighbors to practice secure storage whenever children visit their homes."

Guns should be stored unloaded, separate from ammunition, and locked in boxes, safes, or with cable locks. In partnership with Be SMART, Children’s Hospital New Orleans and the New Orleans Health Department will share this important message via broad public education mediums including sharing messaging and resources on social media, print, outdoor and radio ads, targeted mailings, and distribution of materials through schools, healthcare settings, community organizations and special events.

“We urge the community to join us in spreading this life saving message across New Orleans and beyond,” said Lucio A. Fragoso, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital New Orleans. “As the only verified Level II Pediatric Trauma Center serving Greater New Orleans, we care for far too many of these children in our Emergency Department, our Operating Rooms, and Intensive Care Units. But together, we have the power to prevent tragedies like these from happening and to keep kids happy and healthy.”

In collaboration with the City of New Orleans Office of Neighborhood Engagement, public events are being scheduled where free biometric gun locks will be available to residents, along with education on how to use them, how to securely store guns, and prevent injury and death among children. Gun locks can also be requested on Children’s Hospital’s website at www.chnola.org/besmart, along with education and resources. Funding for the biometric gun locks is made possible through a grant from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the City of New Orleans and Children’s Hospital.

“Be SMART advocates in Louisiana are thrilled to stand shoulder to shoulder with public safety leaders across New Orleans,” said Shannon Cian, the Be SMART volunteer leader in Louisiana. “Together, we’ll work to keep our kids and communities safe from the dangers of unsecured firearms.”

Be SMART and help spread the secure gun storage message to keep kids safe. Visit chnola.org/besmart or besmartforkids.org/Louisiana for tools and resources.

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About Be SMART

Be SMART for Kids (“Be SMART”), a program of Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, helps parents and other adults normalize conversations about gun safety and take responsible actions that can prevent child gun deaths and injuries, youth suicide, and gunfire on school grounds. The program encourages parents and adults to:

• Secure all guns in their home and vehicles
• Model responsible behavior around guns
• Ask about the presence of unsecured guns in other homes
• Recognize the role of guns in suicide
• Tell your peers to be SMART

For more information on secure firearm storage and the most effective ways to protect children from unsecured firearms, visitBeSMARTforkids.org. Additional information about unintentional shootings by children can be found here, facts and resources about child gun suicide can be found here, and information about gunfire on school grounds can be found here.

About the New Orleans Health Department

The mission of the New Orleans Health Department is topromote, protect, and improve the health of all in our community through equitable policies, programs, and partnerships. The Health Department aims to build a healthy and equitable New Orleans by supporting the well-being of everyone in the region. Learn more at www.nola.gov/health-department.

About Children’s Hospital New Orleans

Children’s Hospital New Orleans is a 263-bed, non-profit academic pediatric medical center that offers comprehensive healthcare services, including over 40 pediatric specialties, delivered just for children. With more than 600 pediatric providers, Children’s offers a comprehensive array of pediatric healthcare services in Louisiana and the Gulf South. In addition to its main campus located in New Orleans, the hospital operates a network of specialty clinics across Louisiana, including in Covington, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lafayette, and Diamondhead, MS. Children’s offers primary care services at 12 convenient locations and remotely via its Virtual Care for Kids program. Children’s is a proud member of LCMC Health, a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system which also includes New Orleans East Hospital, Touro, University Medical Center New Orleans, West Jefferson Medical Center, East Jefferson General Hospital, Tulane Medical Center, Lakeview Regional Medical Center, and Tulane Lakeside Hospital. Learn more at chnola.org.