Unintentional Firearm Injury Deaths Among Children and Adolescents Aged 0-17 Years – National Violent Death Reporting System, United States, 2003-2021, CDC, December 15, 2023
Summary:
What is already known about this topic?
Unintentional injury is a leading cause of death among U.S. children and adolescents aged 0-17 years, and firearms are a leading injury method.
What is added by this report?
Approximately one half of unintentional firearm injury deaths among children and adolescents occurred at their home; playing with or showing the firearm to another person was the most common precipitation. Overall, firearms used in unintentional injury deaths were often stored both loaded and unlocked and were commonly accessed from nightstands and other sleeping areas.
What are the implications for public health practice?
Unintentional firearm injury deaths are preventable. (Bold by HJM) Securing firearms (e.g., locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition) is protective against unintentional firearm injury deaths among children and adolescents, underscoring the importance of promoting secure firearm storage.
MOTHERS FOR DEMOCRACY, Thoughts & Prayers are NOT Enough, A one-minute video, December 14, 2023
Also viewable on the Mothers for Democracy website (may need to scroll down)
Comment:
By Don McCanne, M.D.
This video has gone viral, and it is easy to understand why: thoughts and prayers are meaningless when we can do something about the number one killer of children in the United States!
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