title: The air gun: toy or weapon?
abstract: Originally used in warfare, air guns are commonly used in target shooting, as toys, and as "beginner" guns for children. The projectile force of these weapons can rival that of many conventional handguns. Pneumatic weapons pose a serious threat to the pediatric population, and their potential for serious injury must be recognized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick 08903-0019, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cardone
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sutyak
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms / Q000145:classification; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000293:injuries; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009915:Orbit / Q000293:injuries; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000293:injuries; D010496:Pericardium / Q000293:injuries; D010988:Play and Playthings / Q000293:injuries; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000293:injuries; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000209:etiology*