Death from firearm injuries under age of 18

Introduction and purpose: Childhood death due to the firearm injuries are rising in our country and worldwide. In cases of death due to firearm injuries, findings and evidence obtained from the autopsy have a particular significance during judicial investigations. In this study, our aim is to examine the sociodemographic characteristics of deaths from firearm injuries in an age group 18 and under, in İzmir and neighboring provinces between 01.01.2006 and 31.12.2015, to compare these data with analogous studies performed in our country and in the world and to draw attention to the deaths due to injuries caused by firearms in childhood and to raise the social awareness to this issue. Materials and Methods: In our study, forensic examinations and autopsy reports related to 1876 firearm injuries in and around İzmir were retrospectively reviewed and 114 (6.07%) of these cases were referred as deaths of adolescents, children, and infants(18 years old or younger) from firearm injuries. Cases were evaluated with regards to time and location of the death, sex, age, origin, season, month, year, the type of weapon, the number of bullet entries, shooting distance, the structure of the core of the obtained bullet, bullet entry point, the owner of the firearm involved in the case, toxicology results of collected samples, cause of death and victim's age group and identity. Results: The ages of the cases varied from 1 to 18, 79 (69.3%) of the cases were male, 35 (30.7%) cases were female, mean age is 14.04 ± 4.23, and male / female ratio was 2.25. Guns and shotguns were used in 39 cases (34,2%) and in 75 cases (65.8%) respectively. When the cases are evaluated corresponding to their origins; homicide is the first with 37 cases (32.5%), while suicides took place in 34 cases (29.8%), accidental death occurred in 22 cases (19.3%) and no origin was specified for 21 cases (18.4%). It was found that deaths occurred most frequently in winter (n: 32, 28.1%). In 97 cases (85.1%) single gunshot entry wound was detected and in 53 cases (46.5%) the injury was only in the head region. Most of the cases occurred in rural areas such as villages and towns (n=48, 42,1%) and the incidence mostly took place within houses (n=54, 47,4%). In 35 cases (30.7%) the owner of the weapon was the father of the victim. Conclusion: While the individual arming increases in the world, we observed that having firearms at houses causes childhood deaths. We think that if children reach the firearms easily, injuries and deaths are likely to occur therefore firearms shouldn't be kept in the residences with children if possible; otherwise keeping firearms in the places that children cannot reach such as high places, keeping firearm empty, in locked cabinets apart from bullets and cartridges and education about security measurements will be very beneficial. Keywords: Child, Firearm, Death Forensic Autopsy