Human Factors Considerations in Controls and Displays

1
Children and HandgunsThe Problem and Safety
Considerations Hal W. Hendrick, Ph.D., CPE
2
The Problem

• One Young Child a day is killed in an
  unintentional shooting

3
The Problem

• One Young Child a day is killed in an
  unintentional shooting
• Over 4000 persons under 20 killed by handguns per
  year

4
The Problem

• One Young Child a day is killed in an
  unintentional shooting
• Over 4000 persons under 20 killed by handguns per
  year
• An estimated 3 of these, or 1200,
  unintentionally.

5
Underlying Causes Exposure

• 35 of all US households with children have guns
  

6
Underlying Causes Exposure

• 35 of all US households with children have guns
  
• Children in 54 of these households had access to
  unlocked guns.
• 
  
  

7
Underlying Causes Exposure

• 35 of all US households with children have guns
  
• Children in 54 of these households had access to
  unlocked guns.
• 
  
  
• 6.2 of these households with children keep guns
  unlocked and loaded (that is 40,000 children
  exposed to loaded guns in the home in Oregon
  alone!)

8
Underlying Causes Exposure

• 35 of all US households with children have guns
  
• Children in 54 of these households had access to
  unlocked guns.
• 
  
  
• 6.2 of these households with children keep guns
  unlocked and loaded (that is 40,000 children
  exposed to loaded guns in the home in Oregon
  alone!)
• Typical tragic example I personally investigated
  Boy shot his baby sister - Gun unlocked in
  parents bedside table, cartridge clip out, did
  not know a bullet still in the chamber playfully
  pointed the gun at his sister and pulled the
  trigger!

9
Underlying Causes Unrealistic Parental
Perceptions

• Survey results 28 of parents believe their
  child (under 12) could be trusted with a loaded
  gun!
• 58 of survey group stored guns either loaded or
  unlocked.
• Conclusion The majority of parents
  underestimate the risk of injury from handguns to
  their children!
• 
  
  

10
Underlying Causes Lack of
handgun safety training

• Most young children exposed to handguns in the
  home have had no handgun safety training.
• 
  

11
Underlying Causes Lack of
handgun safety training

• Most young children exposed to handguns in the
  home have had no handgun safety training.
• Some adolescents do, but often taught by a parent
  who has had no handgun safety training (i.e.,
  blind teaching the blind).
• 
  
  

12
Underlying Causes Lack of
handgun safety training

• Most young children exposed to handguns in the
  home have had no handgun safety training.
• Some adolescents do, but often taught by a parent
  who has had no handgun safety training.
• Where children (and adults) have had proper
  handgun safety training, incidents of
  unintentional discharge of a firearm are very
  low.
• 
  
  

13
Underlying Causes Unsafe design
- poor ergonomics

• Inconsistent design of safeties (negative
  transfer of training).

14
Underlying Causes Unsafe design
- poor ergonomics

• Inconsistent design of safeties (negative
  transfer of training).
• Cartridge in the chamber with the magazine out of
  the gun.

15
Underlying Causes Unsafe design
- poor ergonomics

• Inconsistent design of safeties (negative
  transfer of training).
• Cartridge in the chamber with the magazine out of
  the gun.
• No positive indication of cartridge in the
  chamber.

16
Underlying Causes Unsafe design
- poor ergonomics

• Inconsistent design of safeties (negative
  transfer of training).
• Cartridge in the chamber with the magazine out of
  the gun.
• No positive indication of cartridge in the
  chamber.
• Large difference in trigger force between first
  and second shot (i.e., double versus single
  action).

17
Underlying Causes Unsafe design
- poor ergonomics

• Inconsistent design of safeties (negative
  transfer of training).
• Cartridge in the chamber with the magazine out of
  the gun.
• No positive indication of cartridge in the
  chamber.
• Large difference in trigger force between first
  and second shot (i.e., double versus single
  action.
• Hair trigger (tragic example I investigated).

18
Underlying Causes Unsafe design
- poor ergonomics

• Inconsistent design of safeties (negative
  transfer of training).
• Cartridge in the chamber with the magazine out of
  the gun.
• No positive indication of cartridge in the
  chamber.
• Large difference in trigger force between first
  and second shot (i.e., double versus single
  action).
• Hair trigger
• Uncomfortable to keep finger outside the trigger
  guard.

19
Underlying Causes Unsafe design
- poor ergonomics

• Inconsistent design of safeties (negative
  transfer of training).
  
• Cartridge in the chamber with the magazine out of
  the gun.
• No positive indication of cartridge in the
  chamber.
• Large difference in trigger force between first
  and second shot (i.e., double versus single
  action).
• Hair trigger
• Uncomfortable to keep finger outside the trigger
  guard.
• New technology to enable only the intended gun
  user to fire it not widely utilized.

20
What is Needed

• Legislation to require training.

21
What is Needed

• Legislation to require training.
• Legislation/public education on importance of
  keeping firearms locked and unloaded in the home.

22
What is Needed

• Legislation to require training.
• Legislation/public education on importance of
  keeping firearms locked and unloaded in the home.
• Accessible training facilities.

23
What is Needed

• Legislation to require training.
• Legislation/public education on importance of
  keeping firearms locked and unloaded in the home.
• Accessible training facilities.
• Certified training programs and instructors.

24
What is Needed

• Legislation to require training.
• Legislation/public education on importance of
  keeping firearms locked and unloaded in the home.
• Accessible training facilities.
• Certified training programs and instructors.
• Correct ergonomic safety deficiencies and
  standardize critical safety features.

25
Conclusion

• Through training, education, legislation, and
  application of ergonomics, unintentional deaths
  from handguns can be drastically reduced!