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Nonpowder Firearm Injuries to Children Treated in Emergency Departments

Margaret Jones1,2, Sandhya Kistamgari1, Gary A Smith3,4,5

  • 1Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.

Pediatrics
|November 27, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Nonpowder firearm injuries in children decreased overall, but eye injuries are a growing concern. Stricter safety laws and education are crucial for preventing these serious, often preventable, injuries.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric emergency medicine
  • Injury prevention
  • Public health

Background:

  • Nonpowder firearms, such as BB guns and airsoft guns, are common toys for children.
  • Despite being non-lethal, these firearms can cause significant injuries, particularly to the eyes.
  • Understanding injury trends is vital for developing effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the incidence and characteristics of nonpowder firearm injuries treated in US emergency departments among children under 18.
  • To identify trends in injury rates, demographics, firearm types, and injury diagnoses over a 27-year period.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) from 1990 to 2016.
  • Analyzed demographic information, injury circumstances, firearm types, and diagnoses for pediatric patients treated for nonpowder firearm injuries.

Main Results:

  • An estimated 364,133 children were treated for nonpowder firearm injuries, with an average of 13,486 annually.
  • Injury rates declined by 47.8% overall, but eye injuries increased by 30.3%, with corneal abrasions and globe ruptures being common.
  • BB guns were the most frequent cause (80.8%), and boys aged 6-17 accounted for the majority of injuries.

Conclusions:

  • Nonpowder firearms remain a significant source of preventable pediatric injuries, with a concerning rise in eye injury severity and incidence.
  • Current safety legislation and educational efforts are insufficient.
  • Enhanced prevention requires stricter safety laws and comprehensive education on safe firearm handling and protective eyewear use.
Abstract

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