![]() ![]() 6, 16, 17 Intentional shooting is uncommon, 7, 20 but did account for at least six of our cases. They are predominantly a result of accidental shooting by a friend, relative, or the victim himself, usually in the absence of adult supervision. Most are reported to occur in public places or at home. In our series and others, approximately one third of injuries involved the head or neck. In 16 children the pellet penetrated the skin and in four this resulted in intra-abdominal or deep cervical trauma. Thirty six (49%) patients were aged 18 years or less (median 15 years, range 4–18 years) and 29 (81%) were male. A retrospective review of accident and emergency records at St James's University Hospital between January 1996 and June 2001 identified 73 injuries caused by air weapons (unpublished data). 18, 19 Our local urban experience in Leeds confirms this observation. 10, 15– 17 Air weapon injuries commonly involve teenage boys. Several case reports from the UK have highlighted the dangers 10– 14 but have tended to focus on specific injuries to the eye or brain. 3, 5– 9 This has long been recognised in the United States where all types of firearm injuries occur more frequently in children than in the United Kingdom. Injuries from air weapons can be serious and even fatal. 2, 3 Air weapons in the UK typically discharge a 0.177 inch or 0.22 inch calibre pellet of the diabolo waisted type, although several other pellet designs exist. 1 Most modern air weapons exceed this velocity and many air rifles can deliver a projectile with similar muzzle velocity to a conventional hand gun. In a review of experimental studies, DiMaio concluded that the critical velocity for penetration of human skin by an air gun pellet was between 38 and 70 m/sec (125–230 ft/sec). Technological refinements have increased the muzzle velocity and hence the penetrating power of these weapons. The projectiles are usually lead pellets or ball bearings. They use the expanding force of compressed air (or gas) to propel a projectile down a barrel and have been in general use since the time of the Napoleonic wars. ![]() Air guns and rifles are potentially lethal weaponsĪt first sight, air guns and air rifles may appear relatively harmless but they are in fact potentially lethal weapons.
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