Loading...
To address the paucity of research on firearm injuries in children, researchers examined all injuries in children and adolescents (age range, 4–17 years) from two level 1 trauma registries in Colorado from 2002 to 2008.
Of 6920 injuries, 129 (1.9%) were caused by firearms. Although the rate trended slightly downward from 2.1% in 2000 to 1.6% in 2008, injury severity increased significantly. Significantly more firearm injuries required intensive care admission than other injuries (50% vs. 19%), and children with firearm injuries were more likely to die from the injury (13% vs. 2%). Firearm injuries were significantly more likely in racial/ethnic groups other than non-Hispanic white children. Compared with other injuries, firearm injuries were…