More children treated for gun-related injuries each year, Atrium Health study says

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — More children are falling victim to gun violence, and health professionals with Atrium Health’s Levine Children’s hospital are studying the trend in hopes of raising more awareness and solutions.

The research is in its initial stages, but according to a top doctor at the hospital, it’s confirmed more children are falling victim to gun violence.

In 2014, Levine Children’s Hospital admitted 30 patients with gun-related injuries. In 2018, the number nearly doubled, to 57 patients.

The research shows the injuries are largely because family guns are not locked up.

But another piece of it is due to criminal behavior, often a small disagreement that escalates into violence.

Deputies: Father charged after 2-year-old finds gun, shoots younger sibling Deputies: Father charged after 2-year-old finds gun, shoots younger sibling

According to the health officials, they’re also seeing patients with gun-related injuries coming back more than once. That, they say, shows a lack of education around guns, and a need to give victims of gun violence the tools they need to safely deal with conflict.

When Channel 9′s Elsa Gillis showed local teacher Erica Fletcher the data, she said she immediately thought about her students.

“I teach middle school and there’s a lot of times that I see my kids look up things about guns, like they’re so curious about them,” Fletcher said. “I think with the access they have to the Internet, it has really honestly made things a little more accessible for them in a bad way.”

The program coordinator for pediatric trauma at the hospital encourages parents to ask other parents, before their child goes on a playdate, about guns in the home and whether they are secured.

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