Exploding breast implants aside, paintball injuries decline

Despite the wince factor associated with the news last week that a paintball caused a British woman’s breast implant to explode, paintball injuries have actually fallen in the United States.

The federal government says that hospital emergency visits due to air and paintball guns fell 20% from 2006 to 2008.

The numbers don’t indicate why paintball injuries may be declining, but there is more awareness about injury prevention these days. According to the stats, from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, most injuries occur in males and people under age 17. More than 25% were in kids ages 10 to 14. Low-income children and adults are more likely than higher-income people to be treated for paintball and air gun injuries.

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