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Journal Article

Citation

Simon HK, Khan NS, Delgado CA. Pediatr. Emerg. Care 2003; 19(4): 248-251.

Affiliation

Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Hughes Spalding Children's Hospital, Grady Healthcare System, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. Hsimon@emory.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12972822

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the type of weapons

confiscated from an urban pediatric hospital and its affiliated general

hospital. METHODS: This was a prospective evaluation of weapons confiscated from

individuals entering 2 affiliated urban hospitals: a general hospital with over

85,000 emergency department visits and a freestanding children's hospital

with over 45,000 emergency department visits. The security personnel are common

between the 2 hospitals and use similar confiscation protocols. The institutions

were evaluated between January 1, 2000 and August 31, 2000, which followed the

implementation of weapons detectors at the children's hospital. The variety

and scope of weapons confiscated were monitored. RESULTS: During the 8 months,

3706 metallic weapons were confiscated. This included 3446 from the general

hospital and 260 from the children's center. The weapons confiscated at the

general hospital compared with the children's hospital included guns (4 vs.

0), knives (2048 vs. 114), box cutter/razors (596 vs. 37), scissors (70 vs. 53),

chemical sprays (205 vs. 50), tools (73 vs. 6), and other (450 vs. 0).

CONCLUSIONS: While more weapons were confiscated at the larger general hospital,

the traditional sense that children's hospitals are at minimal risk is

unjustified. The alarming number of lethal concealed weapons confiscated from

both institutions demonstrates the importance of deterrent security measures,

including the use of metal detectors to protect families and

staff.

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