Background:: Mitigation measures, including school closures, were enacted to protect the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the negative effects of mitigation measures are not fully known. Adolescents are uniquely vulnerable to policy changes since many depend on schools for physical, mental, and/or nutritional support. This study explores the statistical relationships between school closures and adolescent firearm injuries (AFI) during the pandemic. Methods:: Data were drawn from a collaborative registry of 4 trauma centers in Atlanta, GA (2 adult and 2 pediatric). Firearm injuries affecting adolescents aged 11–21 years from 1/1/2016 to 6/30/2021 were evaluated. Local economic and COVID data were obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Georgia Department of Health. Linear models of AFI were created based on COVID cases, school closure, unemployment, and wage changes. Results:: There were 1,330 AFI at Atlanta trauma centers during the study period, 1,130 of whom resided in the 10 metro counties. A significant spike in injuries was observed during Spring 2020. A season-adjusted time series of AFI was found to be non- stationary (p = 0.60). After adjustment for unemployment, seasonal variation, wage changes, county baseline injury rate, and county-level COVID incidence, each additional day of unplanned school closure in Atlanta was associated with 0.69 (95% CI 0.34- 1.04, p < 0.001) additional AFIs across the city. Conclusion:: AFI increased during the COVID pandemic. This rise in violence is statistically attributable in part to school closures after adjustment for COVID cases, unemployment, and seasonal variation. These findings reinforce the need to consider the direct implications on public health and adolescent safety when implementing public policy.

Background: Many hospitals have adopted screening tools to assess risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after pediatric unintentional injury in accordance with American College of Surgeons recommendations. The Screening Tool for Early Predictors of PTSD (STEPP) is a measure initially developed to identify youth and parents at high risk for meeting diagnostic criteria for PTSD after injury. Acute pain during hospitalization has also been examined as a potential predictor of maladaptive outcomes after injury, including PTSD. We investigated in a retrospective cohort study whether the STEPP, as well as acute pain intensity during hospitalization, would predict maladaptive outcomes during the peri-trauma in addition to the post-trauma period, specifically length of hospitalization. Methods: A total of 1123 youths aged 8–17 (61% male) and their parents were included. Patients and parents were administered the STEPP for clinical reasons while hospitalized. Acute pain intensity and length of stay were collected through retrospective chart review. Results: Adjusting for demographics and injury severity, child but not parent STEPP total predicted length of stay. Acute pain intensity, child threat to life appraisal, and child pulse rate predicted length of stay. Conclusions: Acute pain intensity and child PTSD risk factors, most notably child threat to life appraisal, predicted hospitalization length above and beyond multiple factors, including injury severity. Pain intensity and child appraisals may not only serve as early warning signs for maladaptive outcomes after injury but also indicate a more difficult trajectory during hospitalization. Additional assessment and treatment of these factors may be critical while youth are hospitalized. Utilizing psychology services to support youth and integrating trauma-informed care practices during hospitalization may support improved outcomes for youth experiencing unintentional injury.