SPENT BULLETS AND THEIR INJURIES - THE RESULT OF FIRING WEAPONS INTO THE SKY

People often celebrate holidays by firing guns into the air without re alizing that this can cause serious injury or death. The present study identified 118 patients treated since 1985 who were hit with spent bu llets. Most (77%) were hit in the head. The mortality rate was 32%, wh ich is significantly higher than for all gunshot wound victims in gene ral seen at the same medical center. Laws have been enacted to help pr event people shooting into the sky, but more education and enforcement are required to prevent these serious and preventable injuries.