Advocacy X Gun Violence
Firearm injury resulted in over 700,000 emergency department visits in the last decade with an annual cost of approximately $2.8 billion. Additionally it is the third leading cause of injury related death, resulting in over 70,000 deaths per year. It tends to disproportionately affect young adults as well as those of lower socioeconomic status. Recently leading medical organizations have begun identifying Firearm safety as a public health emergency. As the first hospital point of contact for the majority of these cases, Emergency providers have a unique position to identify and advocate for policies that could help reduce the deaths and costs related to Firearm injury.
SocialEMpact Spotlights:
Big News:
Current Presidential Candidate Gun Policies/Views
Biden vs. Trump on firearm policies
Surge of gun purchases during pandemic
Dangerous Gaps Gun Laws Exposed Coronavirus Gun Sale Surge
Recent News:
Advocacy Tools, Resources and Efforts:
Review article on discussing why, who, where and when to ask about firearms in the ED