Pediatric Firearm Injury in Minnesota, 1998. Fatal and Nonfatal Firearm Injuries among Minnesota Youth

Author: Roesler, J. / Ostercamp, M.
Publication: Minnesota Medicine
Topics: Age Group State Surveillance/Data Collection
Keywords: Children and adolescents firearm injuries
Bibliographic information +

To characterize the frequency and pattern of fatal and non-fatal firearm injuries among children and adolescents in Minnesota for the year 1998, the authors examined hospital discharge data and injury data from other sources. The results indicate a firearm injury rate of 12.5/100,000 and a death rate of 2.4/100,000. Where the race of affected individuals were documented, whites represented 53% of the cases; African Americans, 32%; Native Americans, 8%; and Asian/Pacific Islanders, 7%. Sixty-six (66%) of the patients lived in the Minneapolis/St.Paul metro area, and 33% were residents of Greater Minnesota. The authors recommend that policy makers continue to monitor and assess firearm injuries in the state.