Gun violence takes center stage as number one cause of death for kids and teens
"I pray for these kids every day when I get up that when these children walk out the door, may God protect them," one concerned resident said.It's not just New York City. "Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, we've seen about a 185% increase in gunshot wound patients that we're treating at Jacobi," Dr. Romo, the director of pediatric inpatient service at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, said.
"We provide them with counsel and mediation services, job training, different support, services connected to psychological and psychiatric services to mitigate the circumstances that led to their victimization, to try to prevent them from retaliating."NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell faced a litany of questions Saturday -- all coming from kids. The Harlem Children’s Day event was held to help to humanize the police force.
"We've actually had several parents tell us when we're talking about nutrition and exercise and trying to battle the other epidemic of obesity, the parents are afraid to let the kids go out and play because of the rising gun violence in certain neighborhoods," Dr. Silver said.Dr. Silver focuses on prevention and advocating for safe firearm storage.