KING COUNTY, WA - Today, Public Health - Seattle & King County released a report showing a drop in the incidence of firearm injuries and deaths in King County since 1993.

The report, Firearm Injuries and Deaths, King County & Seattle, studied data related to firearm injuries that were severe enough to result in the death or hospitalization of the victim.

From 1993 through 1998, firearm death rates in King County declined by 38%, while injury rates declined by 40% over the same time period. In 1993, 194 persons died from a firearm injury; by 1998, that number dropped to 135.

"Despite recent improvements in the firearm death rate, misuse of firearms continues to be an important public health issue in our community," said King County Executive Ron Sims.

"Firearms are second only to motor vehicles as the leading cause of death from an injury in King County," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "For major segments of our population, firearms have become the leading cause of injury death."

Click here for the full text of Firearm Injuries and Deaths, King County & Seattle (Adobe PDF) and a summary of key findings is listed below.

Declines in motor vehicle deaths have been greater than declines in firearm deaths over the period studied by the report.

As a result, firearms have replaced motor vehicles as the leading cause of death from an injury for some King County residents including: all males, all African Americans, Asian youth between 15-24 years old, and Native American youth between 15-24 years old.

Almost all of the firearm injuries that result in death are intentionally inflicted. Sixty-five percent of all firearm deaths are suicides, while 32% are homicides. One percent of firearm deaths result from injuries that were unintentionally inflicted.

Additional Key Findings from the Firearm Injuries and Deaths, King County & Seattle report:

• Youth and the elderly are most often the victims of firearm deaths; youth are at increased risk of firearm homicide and those over 65 are at increased risk of firearm suicide.
  
  
• The firearm death rate for males is 5 times that for females in King County.
  
  
• There is an increased risk of firearm death, especially firearm homicide, among African American residents of King County.
  
  
• The firearm death rates in Southeast Seattle and Highline/Burien exceed the County average.

In working to prevent unintentional firearm shootings, reduce access to firearms for someone considering suicide, and to reduce the number of stolen firearms used to commit crimes, Public Health - Seattle & King County has received a grant from the Washington State Department of Health to promote safe storage of firearms in King County.

Set to begin by mid-October, the LOK-IT UP project will provide education materials about safe-storage options for firearms and will offer discount coupons for purchase of safe storage devices at participating gun shops.