Violence Prevention - Trauma Center Association of America (TCAA)

TCAA Violence Prevention Statement

The TCAA Board of Directors and the Injury Prevention Committee examined the issue of violence prevention and the recent increase in numbers of gun violence. The organization decided to take steps to speak out against violence by developing the statement and call to action below.

The Trauma Center Association of America (TCAA) calls for each of our members to respond to the increasing violence in our communities. Scientific evidence validates that violence has a negative impact on the health and well-being of individuals across the age span. During the past year, trauma data reveals a stark increase in gun-related violence across the United States.

Call to Action

TCAA encourages our trauma center members to:

Pay attention to the issues affecting their own communities, and develop a plan to address them.

Facilitate health approaches that address community violence prevention and promote health equity.

Recognize and openly acknowledge the physical and emotional pain and grief that a community experiences due to violence, particularly in communities of color.

TCAA is by your side and will be a partner to enact change. We thank you for your commitment and invite you to join us on our Journey.

Visit our Gun Violence Awareness page for additional information/resources.

Click the above image to view the Gun Safety and Your Health brochure presented by the American College of Surgeons.

To download the brochure and brand with your logo, complete this form on the ACS website.

Industry Affiliates:

The American College of Surgeons issued a press release to report the results of two surveys on firearm safety and firearm related injuries. The first survey examined ACS members' practices, attitudes and beliefs about firearms and related policies. The second examined US members' knowledge experience, attitudes, degree of support for ACS COT firearm programs and range of firearm injury prevention policies. Read more at the links below.

Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center's Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program (FIPRP) developed a toolkit aimed at reducing the risk of injury and death by suicide. The toolkit offers support on firearm safe storage, Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) and voluntary waiver of firearm rights. Click here to learn more.

Scrubs Addressing the Firearm Epidemic (SAFE) is an organization comprised of representatives from the medical community committed to eliminating gun violence as a threat to personal and public health. The organization aims to provide resources to patients through research, education and evidence-based policy to allow them to make informed decisions regarding the use of firearms. For more information visit www.standsafe.org.

The Northwell Health Center for Gun Violence Prevention developed the Gun Violence Prevention Forum which is comprised of healthcare leaders and partners to address the issue of gun violence as a public health emergency. The Center recently launched the Gun Violence Prevention Learning Collaborative for Health Systems and Hospitals. The Collaborative is comprised of health system leaders, researchers, and organizations focused on preventing firearm injury and mortality. The goal is to share ideas, start the conversation amongst healthcare professionals and discuss a plan of action to bring about change. Visit this page on Northwell Health's website for their recently completed report on gun violence: America's Gun Violence Crisis: A Time For Action

The Emergency Nurses Association offers Firearm Injury Prevention and Patient Safety courses, webinars and podcasts online. the resources are free to members and non members. Visit: enau.ena.org/Public/Catalog/Main.aspx?Criteria=16&Option=73 for more information.

Firearm/Violence Prevention News: