Firearms, physicians, families, and kids: finding words that work.

In 2020, firearm injuries were the leading cause of death in Americans 18 years old and younger, accounting for 3,230 children’s deaths (63% homicide; 30% suicide; 4% unintentional injury, 2% undetermined). (1) This has increased over the last two years (2) concurrent with a surge in firearm purchases and the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. (3) Firearms are the most lethal method of suicide attempt with a case fatality rate of 90%; they account for 42% of suicide deaths among those <19 years of age.(1) Triple-safe storage practices (storing firearms locked and unloaded with ammunition stored separately) are protective, with simulation models demonstrating that even a modest increase in safe storage could lead to decreased rates of suicide and unintentional injury among children and adolescents.

source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(22)00478-4/fulltext?rss=yes