The One Question Parents Need To Ask

Before you let your child play at another person’s house, you may ask some safety questions. For instance, you’ll probably want to know if adults are there, when they will be home, and what they will be doing.

There’s another question that may be harder to ask, but your child’s life may depend on it: “Is there an unlocked gun in your house?”

The American Academy of Pediatrics says half of all U.S. homes contain firearms. More than a third of all accidental shootings of children happen in the homes of friends, neighbors or relatives.

Follow these gun safety tips to help keep loved ones safe:

*  Never keep a loaded gun in the house or in a car.

*  Keep guns locked up and unloaded. Lock ammunition up in a separate location. Be sure your kids can’t get the keys.

*  Put trigger locks on all guns.

*  Know how to operate a gun before you load it.

*  Don’t point a gun at another person.

*  Unload the gun before setting it down.