Pediatrics Community & Giving

February 4, 2025

Locks for Children’s Safety program provides free gun locks

The initiative seeks to eliminate barriers and foster a safe, judgment-free space for families, employees and community members.

Among those involved in the gun lock safety program are, from left, Heather Kreth, PsyD, left, Erica Shannon and Kelsey Gastineau, MD, MPH. (photo by Donn Jones) Among those involved in the gun lock safety program are, from left, Heather Kreth, PsyD, left, Erica Shannon and Kelsey Gastineau, MD, MPH. (photo by Donn Jones)

Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens in Tennessee, with more than 80 children dying each year due to gun-related injuries.

The continued rise in deaths pushed a team at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to do something.

On Sept. 22, 2024, the hospital launched Locks for Children’s Safety.

“Secure firearm storage is anevidence-based solution to reduce unintentional injuries, firearm-related suicide, and firearm homicides among children,” said Kelsey Gastineau, MD, MPH, assistant professor of Pediatrics at Monroe Carell. “One barrier to safe storage is access to affordable storage devices. This program provides free gun locks, no questions asked, to eliminate barriers and foster a safe, judgment-free space for families, employees and community members.”

To date, more than 3,000 gun locks have been distributed.

The locks are sourced from a variety of partnerships with state agencies and are available on all floors of Monroe Carell, the Emergency Department, Shade Tree Clinic, the General Surgery Clinic on Doctors’ Office Tower (DOT) 7th floor and in the Psychology consult service for Developmental Medicine on DOT 10.

“The overwhelming response to our gun lock program has been both humbling and inspiring,” said Gastineau. “The fact that we’ve distributed just over 3,000 locks over a four-month period shows just how much this resource is needed.

“Every lock represents a step toward a safer community, and we’re committed to expanding this program to meet families wherever they are.”

The team continues to explore additional storage device options to provide families with tools that make their homes safer for their children as well as designate more locations within the hospital that families can access the devices.

“Exposure to firearm violence, directly or indirectly, can impact a child’s health in many ways causing physical, emotional and social symptoms. It can disrupt their sleep or hinder their ability to learn,” said Gastineau.

Team members working alongside Gastineau include Heather Kreth, PsyD, Barron Frazier, MD, Barbara Solomon, MD, Michael Wolf, MD, Holly Miller, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC, Ebone Ingram, MD, Stefani Skoglund, RN, Courtney Lingerfelt, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC, Stacey Pecenka, MPH, CPH and Susan Waggoner, a member of the Family Advisory Council.