HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Ever wondered how many people are being shot in Houston? Well, now you no longer have to guess.
Tuesday, the Houston Health Department launched the SAFEWatch Houston dashboard, which tracks firearm-related injuries across the city.
Councilwoman Abbie Kamin spearheaded the project, which relies on reporting from three Level I trauma centers. She said it cost taxpayers $300,000, including $60,000 from her office’s budget.
It’s the first time such data has been publicly available in Houston, although Philadelphia’s health department has a similar dashboard.
“Now that we have this better picture of what’s happening, we can do something about it,” Kamin said.
The dashboard shows 18,349 firearm-related emergency room visits since 2019. Of the victims, 286 were children under the age of 10.
From Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, the dashboard records 454 gun-related deaths, 261 of which are classified as homicides.
Kamin said health leaders have agreed to routine meetings to review the data and come up with solutions.
“In one zip code where we see a higher rate of unintentional shootings of children, we may be focused more on pediatric screenings, like you do with car seats,” she said.
“Such zip code could be a good place to hand out gun locks,” Kamin suggested.
Eyewitness News noticed Kamin enlisted the help of two public relations firms to promote the launch of the dashboard: Etched Communication and Selph Strategies.
In an effort to shine a light on government spending, ABC13 asked Kamin if any taxpayer money was used to pay the firms, but she initially refused to say and walked away when pressed for specifics.
“I’m not gonna speak to that right now,” Kamin said.
Kamin later agreed to a second interview in which she said she used campaign funds to pay for the PR firms, but couldn’t recall how much they were paid.
“The public dollars that have gone towards this have strictly gone to the actual creation of the dashboard, and we’re really, really proud of that,” she said.
The dashboard will be updated four times a year. Data for this year only runs through Sept. 30.
For news updates, follow Luke Jones on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Copyright © 2025 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Niko Travis is a dedicated health writer with a passion for providing clear, reliable, and research-backed information about medications and mental health. As the author behind TrazodoneSUC, Niko simplifies complex medical topics to help readers understand the benefits, uses, and potential risks of Trazodone. With a commitment to accuracy and well-being, Niko ensures that every article empowers readers to make informed decisions about their health.
