Unintentional, nonfatal firearm-related injuries: a preventable public health burden

Article Abstract:

A large number of people are treated for unintentional firearm-related injuries in the US each year. Researchers estimated the rate of unintentional firearm-related injury by using a Consumer Product Safety Commission database covering 91 emergency departments. Between June, 1992 and May, 1994, these hospitals treated 733 unintentional, nonfatal firearm-related injuries. Nationwide projections based on these data indicate that over 17,000 people are injured by firearms unintentionally each year. Eighty-seven percent of the injuries reported to the CPSC occurred in men and 60.8% occurred in those between 15 and 34 years old. Sixty-two percent of the victims were white. Thirty-eight percent had to be hospitalized for their injuries. In 70% of the cases, the injury was self-inflicted and about half occurred while the owner was cleaning, loading, carrying or showing the weapon. Over half of the cases involved handguns.

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National estimates of nonfatal firearm-related injuries: beyond the tip of the iceberg

Article Abstract:

The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) recorded 4,468 nonfatal injuries involving guns over a one-year period starting June, 1992. NEISS is composed of 91 hospitals chosen as a probability sample of U.S. hospitals and includes inner-city centers, city hospitals, suburban institutions and rural hospitals ranging in size from very large to small. From these data it is estimated that 151,373 people were treated yearly in U.S. emergency departments for nonfatal gun injuries. The majority of those injured were male assault victims and 57% required hospitalization. Between 1968 and 1991, deaths from firearms has increased by 60% from 23,875 to 38,317. Nonfatal gun injuries outnumber fatal gun injuries by a ratio of 2.6 to 1, causing a serious public health concern and a rise in medical costs.

Statistics, Demographic aspects, Violence

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Personal watercraft-related injuries: a growing public health concern

Article Abstract:

The number of injuries caused by personal watercraft (PWC) has increased substantially since 1990. PWCs are small vehicles on which people sit, stand or kneel. Between Jan, 1990 and Dec, 1995, an estimated 32,954 people were treated in US emergency departments for injuries related to PWC. In that time, the number of injuries increased 4-fold while the number of PWCs in operation tripled. Most of the injuries were fractures, lacerations and contusions. The rate of PWC-related injuries was over 8 times higher than the rate of injuries in motorboat occupants.

Accidents, Personal watercraft

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