For decades, auto accidents were the leading cause of death among kids and teens. Not anymore. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gun-related injuries have surpassed motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of death in U.S. children ages 1-19.

Fatal vehicle crashes have decreased because experts looked at the data and made safety improvements. We now have seat belts, airbags, car seats and advanced safety systems in our cars. But now that guns are the leading cause of death for kids in our country, what are we doing about it?

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Gun incidents through the eyes of a trauma surgeon

I’m a trauma surgeon at Akron Children’s. Over the past 12 months, we’ve treated 27 patients with gunshot wounds. The average age of those patients: 12. Gunshot wound cases are particularly horrible and heartbreaking because some can be prevented.

Most cases were nonviolent situations. Kids found a gun, started to play with it and accidentally shot themselves or someone else.

We can oftentimes fix the physical wounds from a gunshot – but the mental and emotional trauma lingers. Kids who survive accidental shootings are at increased risk of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, struggles in school and pain problems.

Take steps to prevent gun injuries, deaths

The American Academy of Pediatrics found the risk of accidental death by shooting is four times higher in homes with guns. If you own guns, the best thing to do is store them somewhere other than your home.

If you keep guns in your home, store them unloaded and out of your child’s reach. Keep them in a safe or lockbox – and equip the guns with child-resistant locks. Always lock and store the bullets away from where you keep your guns.

Conversations are also key when it comes to gun safety. Explain to your kids that real guns – unlike what they see on TV or in video games – can hurt and even kill people. Teach your kids these rules if they see a gun: Stop what you’re doing, don’t touch the gun, leave the area and tell an adult.

It’s important to ask about guns and safe storage if your child is going to a relative's or friend’s house. You shouldn’t feel uncomfortable asking about guns in someone’s home because your child’s health and safety are at risk. If your child visits a friend or relative, ensure that household does not have loaded guns your child could access.

Beyond accidental shootings, a strong link exists between adolescent suicide risk and firearm availability. In houses with guns, the rate of suicide for children and adolescents is three to four times higher than in homes without guns. Reducing access to firearms can determine whether a child at risk for suicide lives or dies. If your child struggles with mental health issues, remove firearms from your house.

Gun-safety information for families

From the emergency room to our primary care offices, Akron Children’s providers regularly talk to the families we serve about gun safety. Our injury prevention team attends community events, sharing gun safety tips and distributing gun locks and lockboxes. We started a firearm awareness committee that is working to engage and educate the community about gun safety. We have gun-related safety information on our website, social media channels and other outlets. But we know there’s more work to be done.

Just like vehicle safety data and standards, which led to many best practices that saved lives, the same can be true for guns. Guns are similar to cars. You can drive a car – just do it in a safe way. You can own a gun – just make sure it is stored safely.

Act now on gun safety to ensure a healthy future for your child.

Healthy Info, Healthy Kids is an initiative of Akron Children’s to prevent and reduce the harm caused by inaccurate or misleading health information. Nathan Heinzerling, M.D., is a pediatric surgeon and the trauma medical director at Akron Children’s.

He is part of the regional trauma committee for the Northeastern Ohio Regional Trauma Network and a clinical instructor at Northeast Ohio Medical University. Dr. Heinzerling lives with his family in the Cuyahoga Valley area.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Doing better on gun safety at home would save children's lives Opinion