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February 1987, Vol 141, No. 2 >
Article | February 1987

Firearms in the Home and Child Safety FREE

Patti J. Patterson, MD; Leigh R. Smith, MD
[+] Author Affiliations

Accepted for publication Aug 19, 1986.

Reprint requests to Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550 (Dr Smith).


Am J Dis Child. 1987;141(2):221-223. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1987.04460020111042.
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Comments

• One hundred fifty families who were seen in the pediatric outpatient clinics at The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, were surveyed to learn about firearm possession in the home and its hazards to children. Thirty-eight percent of these families kept at least one gun in their home. Fifty-five percent of this group reported that the gun was loaded at all times, and 10% reported that the gun was kept loaded, unlocked, and within the reach of a child. We identified demographic characteristics of at-risk families and considered national statistics for gun safety. It was concluded that household firearms pose a significant risk to children and that intervention by physicians could help reduce this public health problem.

(AJDC 1987;141:221-223)

REFERENCES

1 +
Rivara FP, Stapleton FB:  Handguns and children: A dangerous mix . JDBP 1982;;3:35-38.
2 +
Rothenberg MD:  Effect of television violence on children and youth . JAMA 1975;;234: 1043-1046.
3 +
Valentine J, Blocker S, Chang JHT:  Gunshot injuries in children . J Trauma 1984;;24:952-956
4 +
Barlow B, Niemirska M, Gandhi RP:  Ten years' experience with pediatric gunshot wounds . J Pediatr Surg 1982;;17:927-932.
5 +
Heins M, Kahn R, Bjordnal J:  Gunshot wounds in children . Am J Public Health 1974;;64: 326-330.
6 +
Baker SP, Teret SP, Dietz PE:  Firearms and public health . J Public Health Policy 1980;;1:224-229
7 +
Rivara FP:  Epidemiology of violent deaths children and adolescents in the United States . Pediatrician 1983-1985;;12:3-10.
8 +
Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health: Better Health for Our Children: A National Strategy , US Dept of Health and Human Services publication (PHS) 79-55071, 1981;, vol 1.
9 +
Accident Facts . Chicago, National Safety Council, 1984;.
10 +
Halperin SF, Bass JL, Mehta KA, et al:  Unintentional injuries among adolescents and young adults: A review and analysis . J Adolesc Health Care 1983;;4:275-281.
11 +
Jason J, Gilliland JC, Tyler CW:  Homicide as a cause of pediatric mortality in the United States . Pediatrics 1983;;72:191-197.
12 +
Jason J:  Childhood homicide spectrum . AJDC 1983;;137:578-581.
13 +
Nelson KG:  The innocent bystander: The child as unintended victim in domestic violence involving deadly weapons . Pediatrics 1984;;73: 251-252.
14 +
Moseicki EK, Boyd JH:  Epidemiologic trends in firearm suicides among adolescents . Pediatrician 1983-1985;;12:52-62.
15 +
The Houston Post , (March 2) , 1986;.
16 +
Hollingshead AB: Two-Factor Index of Social Position . New Haven, Conn, Yale University, Department of Sociology, 1957;.
17 +
Baker SP, O'Neill B, Karpf RS: The Injury Fact Book . Lexington, Mass, Lexington Books, 1984;, pp 133-134.
18 +
Rushforth NB, Hirsch CS, Ford AB, et al:  Accidental firearm fatalities in a metropolitan county . Am J Epidemiol 1975;;100:499-505.
19 +
Kellerman AL, Reay DT:  Protection or peril? An analysis of firearm related deaths in the home . N Engl J Med 1986;;314:1557-1560.
20 +
Levine MD, Carey WB, Crocker AC, et al (eds): Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics . Philadelphia, WB Saunders Co, 1983;.
21 +
Schetky DH:  Children and handguns . AJDC 1985;;139:229-231.
22 +
Turner CW, Goldsmith D:  Effects of toy guns and airplanes on children's antisocial free play behavior . J Exp Child Psychol 1976;;21:303-315.
23 +
Christoffel KK:  American as apple pie: Guns in the lives of US children and youth . Pediatrician 1983-1985;;12:46-51.
24 +
Jagger J, Dietz PE:  Death and injury by firearms: Who cares? JAMA 1986;;255:3143-3144.
25 +
Christoffel KK, Christoffel T:  Handguns: Risks versus benefits . Pediatrics 1986;;77:781-782.

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References

1 +
Rivara FP, Stapleton FB:  Handguns and children: A dangerous mix . JDBP 1982;;3:35-38.
2 +
Rothenberg MD:  Effect of television violence on children and youth . JAMA 1975;;234: 1043-1046.
3 +
Valentine J, Blocker S, Chang JHT:  Gunshot injuries in children . J Trauma 1984;;24:952-956
4 +
Barlow B, Niemirska M, Gandhi RP:  Ten years' experience with pediatric gunshot wounds . J Pediatr Surg 1982;;17:927-932.
5 +
Heins M, Kahn R, Bjordnal J:  Gunshot wounds in children . Am J Public Health 1974;;64: 326-330.
6 +
Baker SP, Teret SP, Dietz PE:  Firearms and public health . J Public Health Policy 1980;;1:224-229
7 +
Rivara FP:  Epidemiology of violent deaths children and adolescents in the United States . Pediatrician 1983-1985;;12:3-10.
8 +
Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health: Better Health for Our Children: A National Strategy , US Dept of Health and Human Services publication (PHS) 79-55071, 1981;, vol 1.
9 +
Accident Facts . Chicago, National Safety Council, 1984;.
10 +
Halperin SF, Bass JL, Mehta KA, et al:  Unintentional injuries among adolescents and young adults: A review and analysis . J Adolesc Health Care 1983;;4:275-281.
11 +
Jason J, Gilliland JC, Tyler CW:  Homicide as a cause of pediatric mortality in the United States . Pediatrics 1983;;72:191-197.
12 +
Jason J:  Childhood homicide spectrum . AJDC 1983;;137:578-581.
13 +
Nelson KG:  The innocent bystander: The child as unintended victim in domestic violence involving deadly weapons . Pediatrics 1984;;73: 251-252.
14 +
Moseicki EK, Boyd JH:  Epidemiologic trends in firearm suicides among adolescents . Pediatrician 1983-1985;;12:52-62.
15 +
The Houston Post , (March 2) , 1986;.
16 +
Hollingshead AB: Two-Factor Index of Social Position . New Haven, Conn, Yale University, Department of Sociology, 1957;.
17 +
Baker SP, O'Neill B, Karpf RS: The Injury Fact Book . Lexington, Mass, Lexington Books, 1984;, pp 133-134.
18 +
Rushforth NB, Hirsch CS, Ford AB, et al:  Accidental firearm fatalities in a metropolitan county . Am J Epidemiol 1975;;100:499-505.
19 +
Kellerman AL, Reay DT:  Protection or peril? An analysis of firearm related deaths in the home . N Engl J Med 1986;;314:1557-1560.
20 +
Levine MD, Carey WB, Crocker AC, et al (eds): Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics . Philadelphia, WB Saunders Co, 1983;.
21 +
Schetky DH:  Children and handguns . AJDC 1985;;139:229-231.
22 +
Turner CW, Goldsmith D:  Effects of toy guns and airplanes on children's antisocial free play behavior . J Exp Child Psychol 1976;;21:303-315.
23 +
Christoffel KK:  American as apple pie: Guns in the lives of US children and youth . Pediatrician 1983-1985;;12:46-51.
24 +
Jagger J, Dietz PE:  Death and injury by firearms: Who cares? JAMA 1986;;255:3143-3144.
25 +
Christoffel KK, Christoffel T:  Handguns: Risks versus benefits . Pediatrics 1986;;77:781-782.

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