Firearm Injuries and Children: An APSA Position Statement

Infographic · Jul 2019 · 1 min read

In brief

APSA position statement advocating for a comprehensive public health approach to pediatric firearm injuries, the second leading cause of death in children presenting to trauma centers. Supports evidence-based policies including universal background checks, assault weapon restrictions, child access protection laws, and minimum purchase age of 21, while promoting research funding and physician counseling rights.

Firearm injuries are the second leading cause of death in pediatric trauma patients, requiring comprehensive prevention strategies.
APSA endorses universal background checks, assault weapon restrictions, child access protection laws, and minimum purchase age of 21.
Physicians should counsel families on firearm safety; restrictions on such counseling are opposed by APSA.
A multidimensional public health approach—similar to motor vehicle safety—can reduce pediatric firearm deaths.
School bleeding control training and increased federal research funding are essential components of firearm injury prevention.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the infographic.

An infographic with a dark blue header and teal body featuring nine policy recommendations arranged in a 3x3 grid. Each recommendation is illustrated with white icons (warning symbols, people, weapons, documents, locks, hearts, and figures). The layout uses consistent iconography and typography. A Journal of Pediatric Surgery citation appears at the bottom with author information.

Firearm injuries are the second most common cause of death in children who come to a trauma center, and pediatric surgeons provide crucial care for these patients. The American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) is committed to comprehensive pediatric trauma readiness, including firearm injury prevention. APSA supports a public health approach to firearm injury, and it supports availability of quality mental health services. APSA endorses policies for universal background checks, restrictions on assault weapons and high capacity magazines, strong child access protection laws, and a minimum purchase age of 21 years. APSA opposes efforts to keep physicians from counseling children and families about firearms. APSA promotes research to address this problem, including increased federal research support and research into the second victim phenomenon. APSA supports school safety and readiness, including bleeding control training. While it may be daunting to try to reduce firearm deaths in children, the U.S. has seen success in reducing motor vehicle deaths through a multidimensional approach – prevention, design, policy, behavior, trauma care. APSA believes that a similar public health approach can succeed to save children from death and injury from firearms. APSA is committed to building partnerships to accomplish this.