Orantes Cynthia, Chan Hei Kit, Walter Daniel, Chavez Summer, Ugalde Irma T
Department of Emergency Medicine, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 6431 Fannin Street, JJL 475, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA.
Texas Emergency Medicine Research Center, McGovern Medical School, Houston, USA.
Inj Epidemiol. 2023 Aug 7;10(Suppl 1):41. doi: 10.1186/s40621-023-00448-3.
Firearms are a leading cause of death in children. The demand for firearms increased following COVID-19 "stay-at home orders" in March 2020, resulting in record-breaking firearm sales and background checks. We aim to describe the changes in pediatric firearm-related injuries, demographics, and associated risk factors at a Level 1 trauma center in Houston before and during the COVID 19 pandemic.
The total number of pediatric firearm-related injury cases increased during March 15th to December 31st, 2020 and 2021 compared to the same time period in 2019 (104 verses 89 verses 78). The demographic group most affected across years were males (87% in 2019 vs 82% in 2020 and 87% in 2021) between 14 and 17 years old (83% in 2019 vs 81% in 2020 and 76% in 2021). There was an increase in firearm injuries among black youth across all years (28% in 2019 vs 41% in 2020 vs 49% in 2021). Injuries in those with mental illness (10% in 2019 vs 24% in 2020 vs 17% in 2021), and injuries where the shooter was a known family member or friend (14% in 2019 vs 18% in 2020 vs. 15% in 2021), increased from 2019 to 2020.
The total number of pediatric firearm-related injuries increased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the previous year despite a decline in overall pediatric emergency department visits. Increases in pediatric firearm-related injuries in already vulnerable populations should prompt further hospital initiatives including counseling on safe firearm storage, implementation of processes to identify children at risk for firearm injuries, and continued research to mitigate the risk of injury and death associated with firearms in our community.
枪支是儿童死亡的主要原因。2020年3月新冠疫情“居家令”发布后，枪支需求增加，导致枪支销量和背景审查数量均破纪录。我们旨在描述休斯顿一家一级创伤中心在新冠疫情之前及期间，与儿童枪支相关伤害、人口统计学特征及相关风险因素的变化情况。
与2019年同期相比，2020年3月15日至12月31日以及2021年期间，儿童枪支相关伤害案件总数有所增加（分别为104例、89例和78例）。多年来受影响最大的人群是14至17岁的男性（2019年为87%，2020年为82%，2021年为87%）。各年份黑人青少年的枪支伤害均有所增加（2019年为28%，2020年为41%，2021年为49%）。患有精神疾病者的伤害（2019年为10%，2020年为24%，2021年为17%）以及枪手为已知家庭成员或朋友的伤害（2019年为14%，2020年为18%，2021年为15%），从2019年到2020年有所增加。
尽管儿科急诊科就诊总量有所下降，但与前一年相比，新冠疫情期间儿童枪支相关伤害总数仍有所增加。在本就脆弱的人群中，儿童枪支相关伤害的增加应促使医院采取进一步举措，包括开展安全枪支储存咨询、实施识别有枪支伤害风险儿童的流程，以及持续开展研究以降低社区中与枪支相关的伤害和死亡风险。
