National trends in prehospital penetrating trauma in 2020 and 2021

Emergency Medical Services Encounters for Firearm Injuries — 858 Counties, United States, January 2019–September 2023

“…The highest firearm injury EMS encounter rates occurred among persons aged 15–24 years, males, and Black persons; these findings align with previous findings from ED data on firearm injury ( 1 ), EMS data on penetrating injuries ( 7 ), and data on firearm-related deaths. §§§§ The highest rates and most substantial annual rate increases of firearm injury EMS encounters were observed in more urban counties and among counties with the highest prevalence of severe housing problems, largest income inequality, and highest rates of unemployment.…”

“…The highest firearm injury EMS encounter rates occurred among persons aged 15-24 years, males, and Black persons; these findings align with previous findings from ED data on firearm injury (1), EMS data on penetrating injuries (7), and data on firearm-related deaths. § § § § The highest rates and most substantial annual rate increases of firearm injury § § § § https://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars (Accessed April 5, 2024).…”

“…This study highlights the unequal distribution of firearm injury EMS encounters by individual- and county-level characteristics. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of firearm injury EMS encounters increased overall and across most patient- and county-level characteristics, a trend observed elsewhere in prehospital data for penetrating trauma ( 7 ) and ED data on firearm injury ( 1 ). Overall and in most subgroups, annual rates of firearm injury EMS encounters remained higher during 2020–2023 compared with 2019; by 2023, however, rates generally decreased from their 2020 peak.…”