SAFETYLIT WEEKLY UPDATE

We compile citations and summaries of about 400 new articles every week.
RSS Feed

HELP: Tutorials | FAQ
CONTACT US: Contact info

Search Results

Journal Article

Citation

Carr BG, Wiebe DJ, Richmond TS, Cheney R, Branas CC. Inj. Prev. 2009; 15(6): 409-412.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, 929 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021, USA. carrb@upenn.edu

Comment In:

Inj Prev 2009;15(6):425-7

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/ip.2008.020768

PMID

19959734

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To show the feasibility of using a controlled trial to investigate the effect of alcohol on firearm use. METHODS: Randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled trial in the Firearm Usage and Safety Experiments (FUSE) Lab. Treatment subjects (male, 21-40-year-old, non-habitual drinkers, with no professional firearms training) received alcohol; control subjects received placebo alcohol. The AIS PRISim Firearm Simulator, including real pistols retrofitted to discharge compressed air cartridges that simulate firearm recoil and sound, was used to measure firearm performance. Accuracy and speed for target shooting, reaction time scenarios, and scenarios requiring judgement about when to use a gun were measured. RESULTS: 12 subjects enrolled in the trial, completing 160 training scenarios. All subjects in the alcohol arm reached target alcohol level. 33% of placebo subjects reported alcohol consumption. Mechanical malfunction of the simulator occurred in 9 of 160 (5.6%) scenarios. Intoxicated subjects were less accurate, slower to fire in reaction time scenarios, and quicker to fire in scenarios requiring judgement relative to controls. CONCLUSIONS: The feasibility of a randomised, controlled trial exploring the relationship between alcohol consumption and firearm use was shown. The hypothesis that alcohol consumption worsens accuracy and retards judgement about when to use a gun should be tested. Larger trials could inform policies regarding firearm use while intoxicated.


Language: en

NEW SEARCH


All SafetyLit records are available for automatic download to Zotero & Mendeley
Print