In 2020, firearm injuries were the leading cause of death in Americans 18 years old and younger. There was a total of 3,230 children's deaths, of which 63% were homicide, 30% were suicide, 4% were unintentional injury, 2% were undetermined and 0.4% were legal intervention. Healthcare providers who interact regularly with parents and children are well-positioned to discuss evidence-based strategies that reduce unauthorized access to firearms and minimize the risk of firearm injury.
Guest: Maya Haasz, MD, is a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Children's Hospital Colorado.
Resources: The Journal of Pediatrics: Firearms, Physicians, Families, and Kids: Finding Words that Work
For more information on Children's Hospital Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org