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Violence as a Leading Cause of Spinal Cord Injury
BACKGROUND
The AASCIN
recognizes that violence has reached epidemic proportions in our country.
Assaultive injuries by gunshot wounds and stab wounds have become a leading
cause of spinal cord injury (SCI) in many large urban areas of our country. The
Center for Disease Control in Atlanta stated in a recent article in the New
England Journal of Medicine that the time has come for us to address this
problem in the manner in which we have addressed and dealt successfully
with other threats to public health. Firearms, especially hand guns, are a
leading instrument of violent injury, including SCI. Violence has permeated our
culture so persistently and pervasively that we are constantly threatened by its
presence. Persons with SCI are potentially even more vulnerable to subsequent
threats of interpersonal violence.
DEFINITION
Violence is defined as physical force or
other means used by one person with the intent of causing harm, injury or death
to another. Interpersonal violence in the United States has been defined
by the Public Health Services as a national critical health care problem.
POSITION
The recognition of violence as a health
care issue and a leading cause of SCI has impacted SCI nursing in many ways. SCI
nurses care for victims with SCI and perpetrators of violence, recognizing that
these are preventable injuries. This recognition has resulted in concern
by SCI nurses for the potential of more SCI's occurring due to the epidemic of
violence in our society.
The AASCIN believes violence is epidemic in the
United States. The AASCIN believes in educating nurses across the country about
the epidemic of violence in our society.
The AASCIN believes it is in a unique position to
act as a community resource with regard to prevention of violent SCI.
The AASCIN believes the education and practice of
professional nursing and allied health care disciplines should emphasize
assessment, intervention, and teaching concerning violence as a public
health problem.
The AASCIN supports collaboration with other
nursing and health care organizations in an effort to address the epidemic of
violence as a public health and safety issue.
The AASCIN supports legislation and education to
keep guns out of the hands of children. The AASCIN supports legislation
requiring gun owners to obtain education and certification in the safe use of
guns.
REFERENCES
American
Academy of Pediatrics Position Statement on
Firearms and
Adolescents
(1992) (RE9233) Pediatrics 89 (4) : 784-787.
American Nurses Association 1994 Position Statement
on Curbing the Public Health Epidemic of
Handgun Violence in America.
Florida Nurses Association 1994 Position Statement
on Curbing the Public Health Epidemic of
Handgun Violence in Florida.
"Gun Ownership as a Risk Factor for Homicide in the
Home." (1993) New England Journal of Medicine 329 (15) : 1117-1118.
State of Florida Brain and Spinal Cord Injury
Program End of the Year Report. July 1, 1993 to June 30, 1994.
(approved 9/96)
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