Suppose you regularly take your kids to shoot ranges rather than necessarily being the owner of a firing range. In that case, this section may be the one that you have been looking for.
If you take your kids there, it is obvious because you have a couple of objectives in mind. One of them is having a good time. How would you feel about knowing that you didn’t take the necessary precautions to ensure your child’s safety in doing so?
If you want to have a good time with your child, make sure to take proper safety measures. We would be surprised if you would deliberately do something that could significantly impact their health.
Additionally, we are not talking about the negative consequences that it could have in the short term. This could also cause significant long-term damage to their health. The exposure may also be damaging to adults. The devastating effects that it brings are so much more significant among children exposed to the material. They end up with elevated blood lead levels due to inadequate protective measures being taken.
In a still-developing person, exposure is a serious concern that should not be taken lightly. Incorporate safety measures to limit the amount of exposure and actively be sure that you don’t see signs that exposure is happening.
| Risk of poisoning to | General list of symptoms |
| Kidney | Irritability |
| Liver | Anemia |
| Developmental delay | Difficulty thinking |
| Cognitive decline | Head aches |
| Fatigue | |
| Loss of appetite | |
| Sleep problems | |
| Blood pressure | |
| Anything out of the ordinary |
We recommend getting a blood test done every 6 months if you frequently go to a shooting range. It’s especially the ones inside. We recommend that kids get blood work done more often than if they are members of a rifle club or something similar. They will get significant exposure to ranges, guns, and ammunition. That could be a typical example of an activity that would mean frequent exposure is likely to happen. There are also other instances where the exposure could be significant, like practicing competitive shooting. Being the person who knows what your children spend their time doing, we’re sure you’ll know whether or not that is the case.
Besides getting regular blood work done for both you and your children, you should be aware of any symptoms that may indicate poisoning. Acute exposure may reveal itself in the way of these symptoms. Prolonged exposure is also an issue, even if the level of exposure is lower. It does accumulate in the body, and there is currently no way to treat it.
Exposure to lead can result in many side effects that you can find many articles on. However, kidney and liver damage, developmental delay, and cognitive decline are the most dangerous.
There may or may not be a list of symptoms you can spot and encourage you to look out for. If you notice any of these symptoms, seek immediate help from a doctor. They can determine whether or not the symptoms are related to exposure.
The symptoms to look out for include irritability, anemia, difficulty thinking, headaches, fatigue, loss of appetite, and sleep problems. Blood pressure is additionally something to be aware of. Still, we encourage you to be aware of anything that seems out of the ordinary.
Maybe you are a parent looking to find a place where your child can practice. Our recommendation is definitely that they choose an outdoor one for many reasons. It includes the lower exposure to lead particles. However, these outdoor options also offer a range of other benefits. It includes the lower strain on the ears from the noise.
When looking for an indoor place, you may want to go through the various steps outlined in the sections above. Ensure that the shooting range you are considering incorporates the various safety procedures. As we previously mentioned, wet cleaning plays a major role. It is significantly more effective than the simple use of dry cleaning. It is also important that it isn’t just any vacuum.
The actual vacuum is intended for the purpose used to clean the various surfaces, meaning it should be HEPA certified.
You should be encouraging safe shooting practices. It includes the important aspects of ensuring your teen stays protected from the dangerous particles released when a gun is used.
You may not necessarily end up extremely popular due to enforcing these initiatives. They’re important for the sake of teaching your kids about the damaging side effects of exposure. Some will inherently happen through the practice of shooting unless significant measures are taken.
In the same way, the people cleaning the firing ranges are wearing protective equipment. We encourage you to talk with them to incorporate these measures into their training. First of all, the ideal situation would include wearing a respirator through their practice to avoid inhaling any of the particles.
Getting a rebellious teen to do so continuously may not seem feasible. It’s why disposable masks that have been rated for the purpose may be a more realistic option.
It’s also important that you teach them that food and drinks are not consumed at the range. It should be stored safely where contamination isn’t possible. If food is brought to the range, it must remain stored safely like the car.
Teach your kids the importance of washing their hands with cold water following a practice session at the range. It shouldn’t just be cold water.
It has to be cold soapy water, preferably the type of soap made specifically to remove lead particles. Additionally, cold water over hot water is important. It prevents the particles from going in the pores, as the cold water makes the pores close. In contrast, warm water encourages the opening of the pores.
