Florida hospital data shows high concentration of child firearm injuries

An analysis of hospital billing data from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration reveals that more than 4,000 children aged 17 and under were hospitalized for firearm injuries between 2018 and 2024. This averages to approximately 1.5 children per day.

The data, analyzed by KFF Health News and The Trace, shows that these injuries are heavily concentrated within a small number of residential ZIP codes located in the metro areas of Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami, and Tampa Bay. These high-burden areas predominantly feature large Black and Latino populations.

Unlike police records, which focus on where a shooting occurs, this hospital-based methodology tracks where the affected children reside. This distinction captures a broader range of incidents, including unintentional shootings and self-inflicted injuries that may not always result in criminal cases. The report notes that the actual number of affected children is likely higher, as the data excludes those who died at the scene or did not receive hospital treatment.