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Notes from the Field: Trends in Emergency Department Visits for Firearm Injuries — United States, January 2018–December 2023

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Research has highlighted recent increases in fatal and nonfatal firearm injuries (1-3).For example, from 2019 to 2020, firearm homicides and nonfatal firearm injury-related emergency department (ED) visits increased approximately 35% and 37%, respectively (1,2).These increases coincided in part with the COVID-19 pandemic and other sociocultural factors, such as strained law enforcement-community relationships, increases in firearm purchases and some types of crime, and increased discussion about systemic inequities (e.g., in economic, educational, and employment opportunities) that were potentially exacerbated by pandemic conditions (1-5).A year-over-year comparison of firearm injury-related ED visits could provide important insight into the direction of trends, which can help guide ongoing firearm injury prevention efforts.

Source: MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7346a4