Receptivity of providing firearm safety storage devices to parents along with firearms safety education

Background

In the United States, 33% of households with children contain firearms, however only one-third reportedly store firearms securely. It's estimated that 31% of unintentional firearm injury deaths can be prevented with safety devices. Our objective was to distribute safe storage devices, provide safe storage education, evaluate receptivity, and assess impact of intervention at follow-up.

Method

At five independent, community safety events, parents received a safe storage device after completing a survey that assessed firearms storage methods and parental comfort with discussions regarding firearm safety. Follow-up surveys collected 4 weeks later. Data were evaluated using descriptive analysis.

Result

320 participants completed the surveys, and 288 participants were gunowners living with children. Most participants were comfortable discussing safe storage with healthcare providers and were willing to talk with friends about firearm safety. 54% reported inquiring about firearm storage in homes their children visit, 39% stored all their firearms locked-up and unloaded, 32% stored firearms/ammunition separately. 121 (37%0.8) of participants completed the follow-up survey, 84% reported using the distributed safety device and 23% had purchased additional locks for other firearms.

Conclusion

Participants were receptive to firearm safe storage education by a healthcare provider and distribution of a safe storage device. Our follow up survey results showed that pairing firearm safety education with device distribution increased overall use of safe storage devices which in turn has the potential to reduce the incidence of unintentional and intentional self-inflicted firearm injuries. Providing messaging to promote utilization of safe storage will impact a firearm safety culture change.

Two Minutes for Roughing: A National Analysis of Ice Hockey Injuries from American Trauma Centers

BACKGROUND

Hockey is a high-impact sport that carries a risk of injury. No national-level studies defining the burden of injury in this sport have yet been performed. This study sought to analyze patient demographics, injury types and severity, and outcomes after trauma sustained while playing hockey.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of hockey-related injuries was performed using the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) (2007-2018). Patients were identified based on ICD-9 and -10 codes without exclusions. Demographics, clinical/injury data, and outcomes were examined using univariate analysis. Subgroup analysis was performed by patient sex.

RESULTS

Hockey injuries (n = 306) comprised <1% of the NTDB. Median age was 15 years [IQR 13-25] (range 5-71). Most patients (n = 279, 91%) were male. Lower extremities were the most frequently injured body region (n = 88, 29%). Head injuries occurred in 19% (n = 57). Facial injuries occurred in 6% (n = 17). Tooth loss was infrequent (n = 2, 1%). One (<1%) death occurred after a hockey-related brain injury. Clinical/injury data between male and female hockey players were comparable apart from a significantly higher rate of upper extremity fractures among the female cohort (22% vs 4%, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Perceptions that hockey players may frequently sustain head, face, and tooth injuries from collisions, fighting, or stick/puck impacts were not supported by this national-level study, in which lower extremity fractures were the most common injury. While hockey injury prevention equipment has primarily focused on head/face protection (eg, helmets and mouthguards), this analysis suggests increased focus on extremity protective measures is warranted.

A New Device to Prevent Aspiration or Swallowing of Implant Screwdrivers

The screwdriver harness is potentially a life-saving device. It allows the clinician to work intraorally with a handheld screwdriver without the concern of unintentionally losing contact with the driver, risking the possibility of aspiration or swallowing by the patient.

Pressure Sensitive Mats as Safety Devices in Danger Zones

Developing prototypes of pressure sensitive mats and testing their practical application were the aims of this study. Two contact plate mats were designed and constructed: rubber-rubber (R) and metal-metal (M). A recipe for rubber mixes and the production technology were prepared. Two laboratory test stands for measuring the actuating force, response time, static pressure resistance, and the durability of the mats were constructed. Computer software was written to control the operation of those test stands. Methods of testing pressure sensitive mats were based on PrDIN 31 006 (Deutsches Institut fur Normung [DIN], 1990) and EN 1760-1 (Comite Europeen de Normalisation [CEN], 1997). Both prototypes of contact plate mats were tested under laboratory and industrial conditions. The test results proved that the design was correct, the setup requirements were fulfilled, and the mats were efficient and reliable in the industrial environment.