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A Physician’s Perspective: the Public Health Challenge of Gun Safety

By U.S. News & World Report

Every day in my practice, I counsel patients on issues that will improve their health. I discuss diet, exercise, alcohol, drugs, smoking and driving safety. A few months ago, I received a call from a patient who wanted to thank me for saving his life. I felt gratified by the credit, but was unaware of what I had done. He reminded me that I had told him to wear his seatbelt, one of the most important pieces of healthy lifestyle advice I could give him at his 20-something age. Because of his seatbelt, he was able to walk away from a car accident with only minor injuries; police told him he would have died had it not been for the seatbelt.

Motor vehicle accidents are a health challenge in the United States, yet thanks to public health initiatives, including speed limit and seatbelt laws, airbag regulations, better highway design, baby seat and child seat laws, and stricter and better enforcement of drunk driver laws, the number of deaths from accidents has decreased dramatically in recent decades.

This brings us to the dominant public health issue of today: gun safety. Day-to-day, in my practice, I address the issue by counseling parents with young children about gun safety or, when I see a depressed patient, suggest that, if he/she owns a gun, perhaps a friend or family member should hold it until they feel better.

There are 90 deaths due to firearms every day in the U.S., or more than 33,000 deaths a year — approximately the same number of deaths a year as motor vehicle accidents. Suffice to say, the gun safety challenge is much bigger than my practice; it’s time to recognize the magnitude of this issue and work together to develop a rational approach to gun safety. It may involve research, education and regulations, which have been effective with other challenges in the past.

What you, as a patient, can do to reduce gun violence, injury and death:

For starters, make decisions based on currently available information. If you think a gun will keep you safe at home, you may want to consider this: Studies show there’s a significantly greater chance of that gun being used against you then it being used in self-defense.

Tragically, there were 265 accidental shootings by children in 2015. If you decide to own a gun, take a course in gun safety and keep your gun locked up and unloaded. This is particularly critical when you consider suicides and youth. Suicides are a leading cause of death for 13 to 19 year olds, and are often impulsive acts. The risk of suicide is up to 10 times higher in homes with guns than in homes without; a gun that’s loaded and unlocked raises the risk even more.

You may want to consider purchasing a “smart” gun, which would include a safety feature (computer chip, fingerprint recognition, magnetic ring) that allows the gun to fire only when activated by its authorized user. You can actively advocate for gun stores to carry smart guns to give people the option.

I would encourage you to become an advocate for research into gun violence, including the related epidemiology, prevention, safety and risks. And, support efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of regulations, interventions and strategies for preventing injuries and deaths caused by guns.

Finally, 40 percent of all guns in the U.S. are purchased through the public sector. We can leverage the power of market share to insist that gun manufacturers set higher standards to limit the flow of guns to criminals, invest in strategies to improve gun safety and technologies, and cooperate with law enforcement agencies to trace guns used in crimes.

It is time to work together toward saving lives. While it may seem there’s not much we as individuals can do to address the public health challenge of guns, I encourage you to consider the above suggestions.

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A Physician’s Perspective: the Public Health Challenge of Gun Safety originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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