Self-Inflicted and Unintentional Firearm Injuries among Children and Adolescents: The Source of the Firearm

Abstract

Suicide is the third leading cause of death and firearm injuries contribute 65% of those deaths. To determine the ownership and usual storage location of firearms used in intentional and unintentional self-inflicted firearms deaths. Retrospective case series was performed in Nishtar Medical College and Hospital, Multan. Youth age between 1 to 17 years of age recruited in the study, who visited medical trauma unit to seek treatment from January 2019 to January 2020. Medical examiner records, regional police investigative reports, medical records from a level I trauma center, and surveys of victims' families.70 non-fatal injuries and 60 deaths had occurred during this period. Forty-five of these deaths were classified as intentionally self-inflicted (suicide), among these ten deaths were accidental and five were uncertain and undetermined. Of the 70 nonfatal injuries (20%) were classified as suicide attempt and 80% were unintentional. Majority of the guns involved in firearm injuries belongs to the victim’s parents and found in victims home