UCS provides free lockable medication bags and firearm locks to the community

United Counseling Service (UCS) launched a program this summer to provide lockable medication bags and firearm locks to the community at no cost as a safety and suicide prevention effort. The items are available at UCS’ front desk at 100 Ledge Hill Drive by request. UCS also provides the Bennington Police Department (BPD) with lock bags and firearm locks so that officers can also distribute items to the community.

This program is made possible by the Gregory S. Hillman Fund at UCS.

According to the Vermont Department of Health, 40% of Vermont households store at least one firearm in their home. Firearm locks are a safe and easy way to keep firearms out of the wrong hands and help to prevent firearm theft. Lockable bags keep medications safe and away from others, only to be accessed by the owner. Accidental ingestion of medication by children is a danger for children and adolescents in the United States. According to the Children’s Safety Network, unintentional poisoning was the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for children and adolescents ages one-19. Of those cases, poisoning by drugs was related to 73% of unintentional poisoning deaths in children ages zero to nine. As a suicide prevention measure, locking medication bags is a simple way to add a layer of safety between children or adults and access to lethal substances.

“Locking up medication and firearms saves lives,” says Jamie Spear, Program Manager of Emergency Services at UCS. “It’s a critical step to protect your family and prevent tragedies before they happen.”

Please visit UCS at 100 Ledge Hill Drive to access lockable medication bags and/or firearm locks. For more information about UCS and its programs in Bennington County, please visit ucsvt.org.