Responsible gun ownership begins with a strong understanding of best practices for safe storage and handling and limiting lethal access of firearms to prevent unintended use. Safe storage is one of the few prevention strategies that is effective against nearly all forms of gun violence. Stolen firearms fuel community violence. 80% of K-12 school shooters stole a family members gun to carry out the shooting. 82% of firearm suicides by kids used a family member’s gun. If 20% more gun owners with kids locked their firearms, up to 1/3 of youth suicides and accidental deaths would be avoided.

In this training certified firearm safety instructors or individuals with military/law enforcement experience teach Whitney/Strong's STRONG Rules of Firearm Safety developed with guidance from the National Shooting Sports Foundation's Project ChildSafe. The STRONG Rules of Gun Safety focus on safe handling and the importance of safe storage to prevent accidental death and injuries, suicide, harm to others, and firearm theft, which fuels community violence.

STOP THE BLEED® training and two tourniquets helped to save W/S Founder Whitney Austin’s life after she was shot 12 times in a mass shooting. The American College of Surgeons and U.S. Department of Defense, in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting, recommended widespread STOP THE BLEED® training as a way to save more lives in a mass casualty event. A person can bleed out within five minutes. The national average response time for emergency medical care is more than 15 minutes. A bystander that knows how to use a tourniquet or otherwise control bleeding can be the difference between life and death.

In STOP THE BLEED® training, a certified trainer presents the basics of bleeding and how to recognize, then stop life-threatening bleeding, then provides hands-on practice using pressure, packing, and a tourniquet to stop bleeding. The training lasts approximately 90 minutes. Training can also be offered virtually, with extra time for Q&A in lieu of hands-on guidance.

QPR is a suicide prevention program (recommended for ages 16+) that trains attendees to recognize the warning signs of suicide, understand how to ask someone who may be in crisis about suicide, and how to assist them in getting mental health support. The training is approximately 60 minutes with two certified trainers with a 30-minute presentation on facts and myths about suicide and 30 minutes of role-playing how to discuss suicide with a person in crisis. All adult attendees of a W/S-provided QPR Training receive a Gun Safety Kit, which includes a gun lock.

Sources of Strength is a suicide prevention program geared toward youth that is designed to help build resilience and connectedness in communities. The program emphasizes healthy coping skills, helps youth identify their personal strengths and relationships that can help them cope in difficult times, and encourages them to build on these strengths to create a more supportive and suicide-safer community. The program is currently being implemented in over 1,000 communities across the United States. The training is approximately 90 minutes and involves two certified trainers alternating between brief informal presentations, open conversations, and activities to keep youth engaged. All youth attendees of a W/S-provided Sources of Strength Training receive a personal journal.

Save A Life is offered at no cost to the high priority communities in Cincinnati, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky listed above. For other sessions, we encourage you to submit an inquiry form so that we may provide a custom proposal. Fees vary based upon trainings selected, number of attendees, format, and the number of kits provided.

Yes, attendees of high-priority communities receive a Save A Life (bleeding control) and/or gun safety kit at no cost to the participant. Participants outside of these communities may purchase kits if interested. Fees will be included in the custom proposal.

Email Danea@whitstrong.org for questions not answered here.