AIRGUN INJURIES IN CHILDREN

Seventeen children with airgun injuries are reported from the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Sydney. In the only fatal shooting the pellet penetrated the skull and came to rest in the brain. In four other children the pellets lodged in lung tissue whilst in one it entered the sphenoidal sinus. These cases illustrate the potential penetrating power of the gun, a fact not always appreciated by parents and children. Although in the State of New South Wales, children must be at least 14 years of age to be legally in charge of an airgun, the seven gunners whose ages were known were all under the legal age. A plea is made to have such weapons licensed as a method of making sellers, parents and children aware of their responsibilities.