‘ASK Day’ in Louisville takes aim at accidental shootings | News from WDRB [Video]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) —  Accidental shootings are sending dozens of kids to the hospital in downtown Louisville each year.

“A child finding a gun and exploring it and accidently shooting themselves or someone else is 100% preventable,” said Dr. Naomi Warnick at Norton Children’s Hospital. But still, these injuries are happening.

According to Norton, it has seen nine pediatric patients (17-years-old and under) injured in accidental shootings so far this year. Here’s how that compares to previous years with gunshot wound (GSW) patients:

• 2023: 53 accidental, 81.5% of all GSW patients
• 2022: 56 accidental, 82.4% of all GSW patients
• 2021: 68 accidental, 81.9% of all GSW patients
• 2020: 64 accidental, 85.3% of all GSW patients
• 2019: 40 accidental, 83.3% of all GSW patients 

Note: Other shooting injuries that make up the entirety of GSW seen each year are categorized as assault, intentional self-harm or unknown.

“The injuries range from a soft tissue injury to the leg, to a fatal shooting to the chest or to the face, and anything in between,” Warnick explained. 

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