Faculty Collaboration Database

National estimates of non-fatal firearm related injuries other than gunshot wounds. Inj Prev 2000 Dec;6(4):268-74

Date

01/06/2001

Pubmed ID

11144625

Pubmed Central ID

PMC1730658

DOI

10.1136/ip.6.4.268

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0034545787 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   14 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To characterize non-fatal firearm related injuries other than gunshot wounds (non-GSWs) treated in hospital emergency departments in the United States that occur during routine gun handling and recreational use as well as violence related use of a firearm.

METHODS: Cases were identified through the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). During the study period, 1 January 1993 through 31 December 1996, NEISS consisted of a nationally representative sample of 91 hospitals in the United States having at least six beds and providing 24 hour emergency services.

RESULTS: An estimated 65 374, or an average of 16,300 per year, non-fatal, non-GSWs were treated in American hospital emergency departments during the four year study period. Fifty seven per cent of all the non-fatal, non-GSWs were violence related, most of which involved being struck by a firearm. The majority of unintentional non-fatal, non-GSWs were self inflicted and occurred during routine gun handling or recreational use of a firearm; 43% of these injuries resulted from gun recoils.

CONCLUSIONS: Non-fatal, non-GSWs make a notable contribution to the public health burden of firearm related injuries. Firearm related injury prevention programs should focus on not only the reduction of gunshot wounds but also the reduction of unintentional and violence related non-GSWs.

Author List

Hootman JM, Annest JL, Mercy JA, Ryan GW, Hargarten SW

Author

Stephen W. Hargarten MD, MPH Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Child
Child, Preschool
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Firearms
Humans
Infant
Male
Middle Aged
United States
Wounds and Injuries