Free gun locks available, residents selected for program

SEELEY LAKE – At their July 13 meeting, Seeley-Swan Medical Center Satellite Manager Georgiann McCoy informed the Seeley-Swan Hospital District board about their continued partnership with Missoula City-County Health Department to provide free gun locks to Seeley residents. She also updated them on the residency program that will be in full swing by mid-August.

The Medical Center currently has 24 gun locks available to anyone in the community through a partnership with the Health Department Suicide Prevention and Awareness Program and Project Tomorrow Montana, a suicide prevention & education program. Firearms are the most widely used method in completed suicides. Storing guns with a lock prevents accidental discharge. In addition to locking guns, storing them separate from ammunition is the safest model for owning firearms.

“I’m open to giving a gun lock to anyone that is willing to come through our door,” said Abby Berow, Partnership Health Center representative. “If that prevents one accidental discharge of a firearm that results in bodily harm whether intentional or unintentional it is worth it.”

The gun locks are free and will be distributed one per family on a first come, first served basis. If interested stop by the Medical Center or call 406-677-2277 and ask for McCoy. For more information about Project Tomorrow Montana visit projecttomorrowmt.org.

McCoy said three residents will start at the Medical Center Aug. 13. Dr. Stephen Humpal and Lynne Rogers are the residents’ preceptors.

In their applications, these three residents spoke to wanting to work in the rural area, have more hands on experience with all ages and provide more urgent care. Two of the residents are in their third and final year and one is in their second year on the program.

The residents will be working with patients every Friday for the next year. The plan would then be for PHC to select another group of residents for the following year.

The Hospital District’s next meeting will be via telephone call-in Aug. 10 at 5 p.m.