National Data Source:

National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), CPSC.

State Data Source:

Not identified.

Healthy People 2000 Objective:

Not applicable.

Measure:

Rate per 100,000 population.

Baseline:

24 (1997).

Numerator:

Number of nonfatal firearm-related cases treated in U.S. hospital emergency department records.

Denominator:

Number of persons.

Population Targeted:

U.S. resident population.

Questions Used To Obtain the National Data:

Not applicable.

Expected Periodicity:

Periodic.

Comments:

A firearm-related injury is defined as a penetrating injury or gunshot wound from a weapon using a powder charge to fire a projectile.

NEISS does not use ICD codes, however, reporters are given extensive training and report any gun-related injury cases in the emergency department record. Victims may also have other types of injuries, but if the incident involved a gun, it is included. Coders also attempt to capture data on intent, when appropriate information is provided in the medical record.

Description of the NEISS

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