Safe storage program reduces pediatric firearm risks

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Conversations about safe firearm storage, paired with provider training and community engagement, can help reduce unintentional firearm injuries in children and suicide by firearms in adolescents, according to research presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2025 National Conference & Exhibition in Denver, Colorado.^1,2

The program, Store it Safe, was launched in 2015 by the Ohio Chapter of the AAP in collaboration with firearm organizations, community partners, and healthcare providers. It was designed to reduce accidental firearm injuries and deaths in young children and address suicide risk in adolescents through depression screening, safe storage practices, and family education.

“We know that safe storage can save lives. ‘Store it Safe’ is supporting families, training providers, and building strong community partnerships to create a safer environment for children across Ohio and beyond,” said research author Sarah Denny, MD, FAAP, medical director of Store it Safe.

Program structure

The program includes three main components: quality improvement (QI) in clinical practice, coalition building and community engagement, and advocacy.

• Quality improvement: Providers are trained to screen adolescents for depression and suicide risk, conduct discussions about lethal means, and distribute lock boxes to families. Training incorporates virtual reality simulation to help clinicians become more comfortable initiating conversations about firearm storage during preventive visits.
• Coalition building: The initiative unites diverse stakeholders—including health care professionals, firearm safety experts, law enforcement, and educators—around a common message of safe storage. Communities can apply for a Store it Safe City Designation to formally recognize their participation and commitment.
• Advocacy: The program has gained bipartisan support, with an amendment in the Ohio state budget to designate Store it Safe as the official safe storage program. The budget includes a $1 million earmark to expand its reach.

Outcomes

Since its launch, Store it Safe has engaged approximately 130,000 Ohio residents. Program data highlight measurable improvements in clinical practice and family outreach:

• Screening: 14,000 adolescents were screened for depression and suicidality. Screening rates increased from 15% to 77%.
• Counseling: Provider discussions on lethal means restriction rose from 17% to 76% during youth preventive visits.
• Safe storage: More than 3,500 firearm lock boxes were distributed to families.
• Coalition growth: The Store it Safe coalition includes more than 52 member organizations, and the program has expanded to Indiana through a partnership with the Indiana AAP.

“The ‘Store it Safe’ program provides a model for how healthcare providers and community leaders can work together to reduce unintentional injuries and suicides involving firearms,” Denny said.

Expansion and future directions

Two Ohio communities have already been designated Store it Safe Cities, with more expected to follow. In addition to firearm safety, the program has begun to address safe storage of marijuana products to reduce accidental ingestions in children, reflecting a broadened scope as state policies evolve.

By aligning health care providers, community organizations, and firearm stakeholders, Store it Safe has created a unified and replicable model of injury prevention. The program’s bipartisan support and integration into state policy position it as a scalable approach to reducing pediatric firearm injuries and adolescent suicides.

Implications for pediatricians

The authors emphasized that physicians play a critical role in initiating safe storage conversations during well-child visits. The program demonstrates that with adequate training and resources, providers can increase screening rates, normalize discussions about firearms, and support families in making safe, evidence-based decisions.

Store it Safe’s early success suggests that embedding firearm safety into routine pediatric care, supported by community partnerships and advocacy, can be an effective way to prevent injuries and save lives.

References:

1. American Academy of Pediatrics. Safe gun storage program gives pediatricians a guide for preventing suicide by firearms. Eurekalert. September 26, 2025. Accessed September 26, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1098781
2. Denny S. Store it Safe: Quality Improvement, Community Engagement and Advocacy to Prevent Accidental Firearm Injuries/Death in Children and Suicide by Firearms in Adolescents. Abstract. Presented at: American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference & Exhibition. September 26-30, 2025. Denver, Colorado.