Pandemic triggers surge in firearm-related emergency medical service calls
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Recent research from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that emergency medical service (EMS) encounters for firearm injuries surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and remained high throughout the following year. Researchers observed a significant increase in the number of EMS calls related to gunshot wounds, highlighting the pandemic's broader impact on public safety and healthcare resources. The study couldn't pinpoint the exact reasons for the rise in firearm injuries, but one possible factor is the increased number of guns in circulation. The authors also indicated that following stay-at-home recommendations to curb the spread of COVID-19, there was a reported rise in domestic violence across the US.
Source
Rowh A, Zwald M, Fowler K, Jack S, Siordia C, Walters J. Emergency Medical Services Encounters for Firearm Injuries — 858 Counties, United States, January 2019–September 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024;73:551–557. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7324a3
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