Saint Joseph London launches Gun Violence Prevention Program

Nita Johnson, The Sentinel Echo, London, Ky.
·2 min read

Sep. 30—The Nurturing Children Program at Saint Joseph London is expanding the Eddie Eagle GunSafe program into Laurel County Schools this school year, with a program set for London Elementary School on Friday, Sept. 29.

The mission of the Eddie Eagle program is to teach children four simple steps so they know what to do if they ever come across a gun. Those easy-to-remember steps are: Stop, Don't Touch, Run Away, and Tell a Grown-Up. Students also receive activity workbooks and parent guides to take home regarding gun safety.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, in 2022, two children under 11 were killed and 19 injured in gun incidents in Kentucky. Additionally, six teens were killed and 53 were injured in the same year in the Commonwealth. With the prevalence of firearm incidents involving children, the Nurturing Children Program at Saint Joseph London launched the Eddie Eagle GunSafe program this past January at Lynn Camp Elementary School. At the end of the 2022-2023 school year, the Eddie Eagle GunSafe program expanded to all elementary schools in the Knox County School District, where more than 2,500 students were trained. The program is now launching with Laurel County Schools during the 2023-2024 school year.

The Eddie Eagle GunSafe program was developed in 1988 by a task force composed of educators, school administrators, curriculum specialists, urban housing safety officials, clinical psychologists, law enforcement officials and National Rifle Association firearm safety experts.

The Nurturing Children Program at Saint Joseph London is made possible through a grant from the CommonSpirit Health Mission and Ministry Fund. The goal of the program is to reduce child abuse and neglect as well as child fatality.

Schools interested in participating in the Eddie Eagle GunSafe program can contact Mollie Harris at mollie.harris@chisaintjosephhealth.org.