Unintentional, nonfatal firearm-related injuries: A preventable public health burden

ic model” for risk assessment of manual handling operations (MHO) as advocated in the MHO regulations. It describes an exploratory study, which uses a participatory approach and the qualitative analysis method of grounded theory to determine the factors perceived as important by the nurses for patient-handling tasks. The development of a model of these factors is discussed, together with the main outcome of questioning the practical benefits of dividing the generic task of patient handling into subtasks, e.g., bathing, for MHO risk assessment. Public Bicycle Helmet Use Patterns Among Cbildren. G.B. Rodgers, Pediatrics 97(2), 166. Objective. To describe and evaluate the helmet use patterns of children younger than 15 years of age in the United States. Methods. A national telephone survey of bicycle riders was conducted by means of the Mitofsky-Waksberg method of random-digit dialing, a survey method intended to give all telephone numbers in the continental United States an equal probability of selection. Based on information collected in the survey, a logistic regression model was used to determine and quantify the factors associated with helmet use. Results. Information was collected on the bicycle and helmet use patterns of a national sample of 399 children younger than 15 years of age who rode bicycles during the year preceding the survey. The sample projects to the approximately 26.4 million children who are estimated to have ridden bicycles in 1991. About 26% of all child riders owned or had the use of bicycle helmets, and about 15% were reported to have used their helmets all or more than half of the time when rising. Information is provided on the reasons the children did or did not wear helmets. The logistic regression analysis shows that helmet use by children is systematically related to their personal characteristics (e.g., age and whether they had previously had bicyclerelated accidents requiring medical attention), riding patterns (e.g. riding surface), and household demographic characteristics (e.g, geographic location and whether household members had attended college). Unintentional,

Nonfatal Firearm-Related

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juries: A Preventable Public Health Burden. N. Sinauer, J.L. Annest, J.A. Mercy. JAMA, 275(22), 1740-l 743. Objective. To describe the magnitude and characteristics of unintentional, nonfatal firearm-related injuries treated in US hospital emergency departments. Design. Data were obtained from medical records for all firearm-related injury cases identified using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) from June 1, 1992, through May 3 1, 1994. We report on cases classified as unintentional gunshot wounds. Sening. NEISS comprises 91 hospitals that am a stratified probability sample of all hospitals in the United States and its territories that have at least 6 beds and provide 24-hour emergency service. Main outcome measures. Number of and population rates for unintentional, nonfatal firearm-related injuries. Results. An estimated 34,485 (95% confidence interval [CI], 25,22543,745) persons (6.7 per 100,000 population; 95% CL 4.p-8.5) were treated for unintentionaI nonfatal firearm-related injuries in US emergency depattments during the 2-year study per&l. The majority of patients were male (87%) and aged 15 to 34 years (61%); 38% requited hospitalization.Injuries were most often to an extremity (73%), were self-inflicted (70%), involved a handgun (57%), and rest&d during common gun-related activities. Conclusions. Further development of effective interventions are needed to reduce the risk of injury from unintentional discharge of a firearm during routine gunhandling practices by those who own and use firearms. These injuries often occur during common gun-related activities such as gun-cleaning, loading/unloading, hunting, target shooting, and showing, handling, or carrying. Studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of existing gun safety training courses and assess the potential role of various gun safety devices (e.g., trigger locks and loading indicators) in future prevention strategies.

Skiing Injuries in Children and Adolescents. N. A. Shortel; Z?E. Jensen, B.J. Harmon, D.Z? Mooney, The Journal of Trauma: Znjury, Znfection, and Critical Care, 40(6), 997-1001. Objective: A study of major skiing injuries in children and adolescents. 117