After accidentally shooting himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub this weekend, NFL New York Giants star receiver Plaxico Burress turned himself in to New York Police Monday to face charges of criminal possession of a weapon. While Burress is expected to make a full recovery, his tenure with the Giants may be over just ten months removed from catching the winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl XLII.

The incident has highlighted several issues surrounding gun safety including frequency of accidental self-inflicted gunshot wounds. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 16,000 people are injured in the U.S. each year from such accidental shootings, which is likely an underestimate because people may not always seek medical treatment. An estimated 800 people die each year from accidental gunshot wounds, many of them self-inflicted.

The incident also highlights the need to practice gun safety if you are carrying a gun or have one in the house for protection. Burress and many other NFL stars say they carry guns in public because their high profile personas make them targets for robberies and assault. However, it is far more dangerous to carry a gun improperly than it is to carry no gun at all.

Burress reportedly had the gun in his waistband, which is a dangerous way to carry a gun because the trigger can easily be pulled accidentally. When carrying a gun, always use a proper holster because it keeps the firearm in place and keeps objects out of the trigger guard. Some other gun safety tips include:

• Guns are equipped with safety mechanisms that can be placed in a “locked” position, preventing the gun from firing. The safety should always be on, up until the point when you have raised the weapon into position to fire.
• Always keep your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to fire. Simply having your finger near the trigger makes it more likely that you will pull it accidentally.
• Always follow the laws of your local city and state regarding guns. Many places require concealed weapons permits in addition to gun registration if you want to carry a gun for protection outside the home.

If you have never done so, taking a gun safety class can teach you the basics of safe gun handling as well as how to safely clean and store a gun.

To find out more about gun safety, visit the CDC’s website to view an informative video. If you want to share an experience of yours regarding gun safety, join Healia Health Communities.

_{Photo: robertnelson, Flickr, Creative Commons}

The recent shooting at a Nebraska shopping mall by a 19-year old teen has many concerned about the use of antidepressants among teenagers. The suspect killed eight people and then himself on December 5, 2007 at the Westroads Mall in Omaha, Nebraska. Reports say that the suspect was using antidepressants and had been experiencing mental health problems and ideations of suicide.

This is not the first time a shooting rampage has been linked to antidepressants. One of the Columbine shooters was reportedly taking a prescription antidepressant when he participated in the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO (CNN).

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), antidepressants can help improve a person’s mood, sleep, appetite, and concentration. Antidepressants typically take several weeks of use to be helpful. It is required that antidepressants carry strong warnings about their possible link to suicidal behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults ages 18 to 24.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that antidepressants may cause suicidal thinking and behavior. A recent analysis showed that children on antidepressants were more likely to have suicidal thoughts or behavior compared to children taking a placebo (sugar pill).

The signs and symptoms of suicidal thoughts or self-harm are sometimes not obvious and may be difficult to detect. According to the Mayo Clinic, signs and symptoms that a condition may be worsening or that someone may be at risk of self-harm include:

• Thoughts about suicide or dying
• Attempted suicide
• Self-injury
• Feelings of agitation or restlessness
• Panic attacks
• Sleeping problems
• Increasing sadness
• Extreme increase in talking or activity
• Aggression, violence or hostility
• New or worsening anxiety
• Problems at school
• Spending more time alone