Firearm-Related Injuries Affecting the Pediatric Population

Mortality of Youth Offenders Along a Continuum of Justice System Involvement

“…National organizations have repeatedly highlighted the need to reduce firearm violence, a leading cause of homicide-related death among adolescent and young adult populations. [34][35][36] In light of these findings, violence prevention programs should focus narrowly on youth already held in secure facilities, as they are at significantly greater risk of death than arrested offenders. The successful CeaseFire program, for example, employs law enforcement strategies that target high-risk offenders.…”

Racial/Ethnic Specific Trends in Pediatric Firearm-Related Hospitalizations in the United States, 1998–2011

“…Both assault and unintentional injuries have been implicated as leading causes of FH depending on the age of the children [12,17]. Recent evidence suggests that the declining trend in firearm fatalities was attributed to decline in firearm homicide rates among those aged 15-19 years [6], and that FHs among those \15 years have different risk profiles as compared to older children [9]. The difference in firearm injury by race is associated with the intent of injury, where white children were injured after unintentional firearm discharge, whereas most black children were shot violently [17].…”

Yes, You Can: Physicians, Patients, and Firearms

“…Middle-aged and older white men are at high risk for firearm-related suicide (up to 5 times higher than black men of the same age), and young African American men are 20 times as likely as young white men to die of firearm-related homicide (1). Children and adolescents may engage in risk behaviors with firearms because their judgment and cognitive skills are not fully developed (33).…”

“…The American Academy of Pediatrics has long recommended that physicians provide counseling (44); since the passage of the Florida law, many other medical specialty societies have made similar recommendations (45).…”