CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE INJURY

By understanding the circumstances surrounding firearm injuries, situational risk factors involving the immediate environmental and societal precursors of violent incidents can be identified and prevention efforts can be targeted at these factors. However, in South Africa there is a lack of research in this area. From studies that have been done it would seem that the majority of firearm injuries occur in residential areas, during the evening and at weekends. The mortuary data on the time of day and day of the week are shown below.

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