Tamarack Health Hayward Medical Center - Hayward, 2025 Community Benefits
Hayward Medical Center partners with SCOPE to provide free gun safety locks to the community
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Approximately 45% of homes in Wisconsin have guns, which is roughly half of the 2.4 million homes in the state. Responsible hunting and gun use are a big part of the Northwoods culture, and this year, Hayward Medical Center decided to focus on improving gun safety in the home.
During routine well-child visits, clinicians had the opportunity to talk to families about gun safety and the availability of gun locks in their home. If a family did not have gun locks, one was provided to them free of charge during their medical visit. This initiative came about through a partnership with Sawyer County Outdoor Projects and Education, or SCOPE, a local organization that promotes safety in the region through hunter safety programs, sustainable wildlife and forestry practices, and outdoor youth programs. SCOPE, in co-operation with the Sawyer County Sheriff's Department and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, provided 250 free trigger locks to support this program.
“SCOPE is all about promoting safe and sensible outdoor recreation and use of our natural resources,” said Curt Becker, board member of SCOPE. “Hunter’s safety and responsible gun use training is a big piece of what we do at SCOPE. We know not everyone keeps their guns locked, and we want to help change those statistics, which is why we were happy to partner with Tamarack Health to get more safety locks in households.”
By providing gun locks at a convenient touchpoint, Hayward Medical Center and SCOPE are working together to empower families to enhance the safety of their homes. This partnership underscores the hospital's role extends beyond clinical care, embracing a broader responsibility to contribute to the health and security of the Hayward community.
“Tamarack Health is more than just seeing a patient in a clinic,” said Candi McConnell, primary care manager at Tamarack Health Hayward Medical Center. “We want to know our patients and their families on a whole-person level. With our collaboration with SCOPE, it’s been rewarding to get these safety locks into more homes.”
This program serves as a compelling example of how hospitals can actively engage with community organizations to address specific challenges. The partnership between Hayward Medical Center and SCOPE is not just about distributing physical locks - it’s about opening a dialogue on gun safety, raising awareness, and providing practical solutions that can make a significant difference in preventing accidents.
During routine well-child visits, clinicians had the opportunity to talk to families about gun safety and the availability of gun locks in their home. If a family did not have gun locks, one was provided to them free of charge during their medical visit. This initiative came about through a partnership with Sawyer County Outdoor Projects and Education, or SCOPE, a local organization that promotes safety in the region through hunter safety programs, sustainable wildlife and forestry practices, and outdoor youth programs. SCOPE, in co-operation with the Sawyer County Sheriff's Department and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, provided 250 free trigger locks to support this program.
“SCOPE is all about promoting safe and sensible outdoor recreation and use of our natural resources,” said Curt Becker, board member of SCOPE. “Hunter’s safety and responsible gun use training is a big piece of what we do at SCOPE. We know not everyone keeps their guns locked, and we want to help change those statistics, which is why we were happy to partner with Tamarack Health to get more safety locks in households.”
By providing gun locks at a convenient touchpoint, Hayward Medical Center and SCOPE are working together to empower families to enhance the safety of their homes. This partnership underscores the hospital's role extends beyond clinical care, embracing a broader responsibility to contribute to the health and security of the Hayward community.
“Tamarack Health is more than just seeing a patient in a clinic,” said Candi McConnell, primary care manager at Tamarack Health Hayward Medical Center. “We want to know our patients and their families on a whole-person level. With our collaboration with SCOPE, it’s been rewarding to get these safety locks into more homes.”
This program serves as a compelling example of how hospitals can actively engage with community organizations to address specific challenges. The partnership between Hayward Medical Center and SCOPE is not just about distributing physical locks - it’s about opening a dialogue on gun safety, raising awareness, and providing practical solutions that can make a significant difference in preventing accidents.
