15 truthful facts about gunshot wounds that will destroy popular stereotypes.

1. Travmatics

Weapons as a bad sign.

The University of Pennsylvania analyzed 677 injuries as a result of the use of firearms. The study showed that people who wear weapons are 4.5 times more likely to receive gunshot wounds, and 4.2 times more likely to be killed, compared to unarmed citizens.

2. Treatment of firearms

Gunshot wound: it's expensive.

The wound is expensive. According to the New York Times, the average cost of emergency medical care after a gunshot wound is $ 14,600, and the cost of lifelong medical care is $ 35,400. At the same time, this amount does not include court costs, psychiatric assistance, lost money in connection with work deprivation and other expenses.

3. Bullet speed

4. Ricochet

Gunshot wound: ricochet.

In most cases, the bullet does not pass through the victim's body "cleanly". Instead, it "walks" inside the body, ricocheting off the bones, thereby causing even greater damage.

5. Men and women

Gunshot wound: men and women.

Women who are seriously injured, 14% more likely to survive than men with identical wounds. Scientists believe that the difference may be due to the negative impact of male sex hormones on the injured immune system.

6. Violence and Economics

Gunshot wound: violence and the economy.229 billion.

Researchers estimated that violence with the use of firearms costs the American economy at least $ 229 billion a year. This amount includes direct costs of $ 8.6 billion for emergency medical care.

7. Location of injury

8. The brain

Gunshot wound: pushes apart, but does not break.

When the victim receives wounding in the head, the bullet moves through the brain faster than the speed with which tissue is torn. This means that the bullet actually moves the tissues apart, rather than tearing them apart.

9. "Bulletproof Vest"

Gunshot wound: "Bulletproof Vest."

Bullet-proof vests are not really bulletproof. A more accurate definition would be "bulletproof". In a very small percentage of cases, a bullet (for example, with a jagged edge) can pierce the vest.

10. Bleeding

Gunshot wound: bleeding.

Bleeding is one of the most common causes of death associated with gun violence, but it can be prevented with special injection sponges. These sponges expand after inserting them into the wound, filling the cavity left by the bullet in just 15 seconds.

11. First aid

If a person receives medical help after a gunshot wound quickly enough, you have a chance to survive 95% higher. Surprisingly, the will to live was often referred to as one of the most important factors of survival after such injuries (and also all kinds of other injuries).

12. Hydrostatics

Gunshot wound: hydrostatic.

In addition to local tissue damage caused by direct impact, the bullet can also lead to injury due to the hydraulic effect on liquid-filled tissues. This phenomenon is known as hydrostatic shock or hydraulic shock.

13. Its infections

Gunshot wound: infection.

The main problem with gunshot wounds that are associated with the intestines or stomach, not bleeding. Much more dangerous infections that arise as a result of the distribution of the contents of these organs inside the body.

14. Input and output

Gunshot wound: "Entrance" and "Exit."

There are two main types of gunshot wounds - an input wound and an exit wound. The input wound is usually smaller and rather symmetrical in comparison with the output wound, which tends to be larger and more destructive, as the bullet reaches the end of its trajectory and is forced to "push" through the tissue.

15 . Pneumothorax

A small percentage of gun deaths are due to a condition known as pneumothorax, also known as lung collapse. The lungs do not have muscles, and they expand because of the negative pressure inside the pleural cavity, which means that any opening can cause a similar condition.