HOUSTON – It is a new system — a different way — to look at the numbers to help curb gun violence across the city of Houston.
It is the city’s new SafeWatch dashboard revealed first in an exclusive preview given only to KPRC 2. It is a collaboration between — not just law enforcement, emergency responders, and the city government. Also brought to the table were the people who see the firsthand results of gun violence perhaps more than anyone: the doctors and nurses in the level-one trauma centers at Ben Taub, Texas Children’s, and Memorial Hermann hospitals.
“Now we have this comprehensive evidence-based data set that allows us to respond,” says Dr. Sandra McKay of UT Health Houston. “That makes it its very first of its kind in the country.”
The dashboard was spearheaded by the efforts of District-C Councilmember Abbie Kamin.
“This has never been done before. Houston is leading the way,” said Kamin. “As a mom, nobody wants to see the stories we’re seeing of a child rushed to a trauma center because they got a hold of a gun.”
So how does it work?
The dashboard will be open to the public: families, renters, professionals, entrepreneurs, non-profits, and houses of worship. All will be able to access the SafeWatch site which collects data points from the trauma centers, law enforcement, and medical examiners. Shootings are broken down according to zip code, age, timeframe, and even unintentional shootings versus homicides. You will also know if the shooting was connected to domestic violence or suicide.
“All of our level-one trauma centers and the largest medical center in the world are now all coming together and going to be meeting to not just discuss this, but find ways to focus on health-based interventions to save lives in Houston,” Kamin said.
The SafeWatch dashboard goes live to the public on Tuesday, December 2nd. It will be maintained by the city’s health department and updated quarterly.
“We can make interventions,” added Dr. McKay. “And we can actually start to move the needle on those injuries and deaths.”
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