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A new study published in the journal Pediatrics has revealed a concerning trend: pediatric firearm injuries exhibit significant geospatial clustering, with a substantial majority of incidents occurring within the child’s home ZIP code.
Researchers from Oregon Health & Science University analyzed over 10 million 9-1-1 emergency medical services (EMS) responses from 2012 to 2022 across 50 states. Their findings indicate that of the 26,101 firearm injury incidents involving children aged 0 to 17, a large proportion occurred close to home.
Specifically, the study found that:
- Among children aged 0 to 10, 80.9% of firearm injuries occurred within their home ZIP code, and 40.5% occurred within a geospatial cluster.
- For adolescents aged 11 to 17, 69.7% of firearm injuries happened in their home ZIP code, and 51.5% occurred within a cluster.
- Analysis of 37 states with continuous data showed an increase in the rate of pediatric firearm injuries and the number of “hotspots” over time.
- In 2022, a significant percentage of clustered ZIP codes were newly identified as hotspots for both children (47.8%) and adolescents (32.1%).
“The rate of pediatric firearm injuries and number of hotspots increased over time, with many new ZIP codes included as hotspots in 2022,” stated Dr. Craig D. Newgard, lead author of the study.
The study utilized data from 10,521,575 9-1-1 EMS responses across 30,393 ZIP codes, highlighting the prevalence of these incidents. The researchers emphasize the importance of understanding the spatial distribution of these injuries to inform prevention efforts.
The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and community-based strategies to address firearm safety, particularly within residential areas.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided in a scientific study. The results of this study should be interpreted within the context of the study’s methodology and limitations. Further research may be needed to confirm and expand upon these findings. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice.
