Erlanger Children’s Hospital providing free firearm safety resources to new parents

Erlanger Children’s Hospital

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Erlanger Children’s Hospital, in partnership with Voices for a Safer Tennessee (Safer TN), is now providing firearm safety information cards and free cable locks to every parent of babies born at the hospital.

They say firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States, and Tennessee ranks third in the nation for accidental shootings by children, with victims most often children themselves.

 “With a toddler at home, and then with a newborn who becomes a toddler in the blink of an eye, we absolutely think secure storage is necessary. I think it’s one of the crucial parts of babyproofing the house. It’s actually the most important part.”

– Chattanooga mom Hallie Haley said.

Erlanger says they plan to distribute approximately 2,600 cable locks and safety cards by the end of 2026.

Voices for a Safer Tennessee partnered with the hospital and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security to supply the locks and educational materials.