Medical Surveillance Monthly Report (MSMR). Volume 6, Number 9, November 2000

Sie sind hier: Homepage > Suche

Medical Surveillance Monthly Report (MSMR). Volume 6, Number 9, November 2000

L. Erickson / M. V. Rubertone / J. F. Brundage / K. F. Kohlhase / Y. E. Smith

Firearm injuries are a major threat to the health of young adult Americans. In 1994 in the United States, for example, there were 38,505 firearm related deaths and approximately three nonfatal injuries for every death. Approximately one-third of all firearm-related deaths were among persons between 15 and 24 years old,1 the age range of approximately 40% of active duty soldiers. Military personnel must be prepared to use firearms safely and effectively in the event of war, civil disturbance, or military conflict. In turn, initial and periodic military weapons training emphasizes marksmanship, operator skills, and safety. Officers and enlisted personnel are generally trained and qualified with handguns and M16 rifles, respectively. It is unknown, however, whether military members are more or less likely than their civilian counterparts to be injured by firearms. This report describes the nature, magnitude, distribution, and correlates of non-combat gunshot-related injury risks among active duty members of the US Armed Forces.