ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 8

Deaths Due to Firearms Injuries in Children
Lifschultz, BD
Deputy Medical Examiner, Office of the Medical Examiner of Cook County, IL

Donoghue, ER
Chief Medical Examiner, Office of the Medical Examiner of Cook County, IL

Choi, E
Deputy Medical Examiner, Office of the Medical Examiner of Cook County, IL

(Received 13 August 1993; accepted 28 September 1993)

Abstract

There has been a marked increase in firearms-related deaths in this country over the past several decades. Especially in urban areas this increase has been correlated with a greater availability of handguns. Children have become more common victims of gunfire. Both accidental and homicidal shooting deaths have increased in the lower age groups. We examined deaths due to gunfire in children ten years and younger in Cook County, Illinois, which contains the large city of Chicago. Homicidal shootings predominated in this age group with the most common circumstances being a child struck by a stray bullet. Accidental shooting deaths always occurred when one or more children were playing with a gun they found in the home.

Keywords:
pathology and biology, deaths, firearms injuries, children

Paper ID: JFS13646J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13646J
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.