Firearm Deaths and Injuries Among U.S. Children

Over 90% of all pediatric firearm-related deaths in high-income countries occur in the U.S., with approximately 20 U.S. children being killed or injured from gunshot wounds each day.

Investigators used the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System and the National Violent Death Reporting System to assess the scale and characteristics of firearm-related deaths and injuries among U.S. children (0–17 years of age) from 2002 to 2014. Highlights of their findings include:

Each year, roughly 1300 U.S. children die and 5800 are treated for gunshot wounds (2 and 8 per 100,000 population, respectively)
Among firearm deaths, 53% are homicides, 38% suicides, and 6% unintentional.
Pediatric firearm homicides are higher in Southern states and parts of the Midwest, while firearm suicides are more dispersed.
Firearm fatality rates are highest in the setting of self-harm (74%), followed by assaults (14%) and unintentional discharges (…

Reviewing Author

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Firearm Deaths and Injuries Among U.S. Children

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Reviewing Author