Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T09:17:30.912Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Paramedic and Emergency Medical Technician Reflections on the Ongoing Impact of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 February 2019

Erin C. Smith  and
Frederick M. Burkle Jr.
Erin C. Smith*
Affiliation:
Edith Cowan University, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia James Cook University, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, Cairns, Australia
Frederick M. Burkle Jr.
Affiliation:
Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Harvard University and Harvard T.C. Chan School of Public Health, Cambridge, MassachusettsUSA Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington, DC, USA
*
Correspondence: Erin Smith, PhD, MPH, MClinEpi School of Medical and Health Sciences Edith Cowan University 270 Joondalup Drive Joondalup, Western Australia, 6027 E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction

In the years following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City (New York USA), otherwise known as 9/11, first responders began experiencing a range of health and psychosocial impacts. Publications documenting these largely focus on firefighters. This research explores paramedic and emergency medical technician (EMT) reflections on the long-term impact of responding to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Methods

Qualitative methods were used to conduct interviews with 54 paramedics and EMTs on the 15-year anniversary of 9/11.

Results

Research participants reported a range of long-term psychosocial issues including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, insomnia, relationship breakdowns and impact on family support systems, and addictive and risk-taking behaviors. Ongoing physical health issues included respiratory disorders, eye problems, and cancers.

Discussion

These findings will go some way to filling the current gap in the 9/11 evidence-base regarding the understanding of the long-term impact on paramedics and EMTs. The testimony of this qualitative research is to ensure that an important voice is not lost, and that the deeply personal and richly descriptive experiences of the 9/11 paramedics and EMTs are not forgotten.

SmithEC, BurkleFMJr.Paramedic and Emergency Medical Technician Reflections on the Ongoing Impact of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2019;34(1):56–61.

Keywords

9/11emergency medical technicianEMTparamedicSeptember 11 terrorist attack
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 34 , Issue 1 , February 2019 , pp. 56 - 61
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2019 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Conflicts of interest/disclaimer: The authors report no conflicts of interest. Names within the manuscript have been changed to protect the identity of research participants and their colleagues.

References

1. World Trade Center Health Panel. Addressing the Health Impacts of 9/11: Report and Recommendations to Mayor Michael Bloomberg. http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/911_health_impacts_report.pdf. Accessed February 19, 2016.Google Scholar
2. CNN. September 11th Fast Facts. http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/27/us/september-11-anniversary-fast-facts/index.html. Published September 8, 2016. Accessed August 9, 2017.Google Scholar
3. Smith, E, Burkle, FM Jr. Working towards wellness: lessons from the 9/11 medics for Australian ambulance services. Presented at the Paramedics Australasia ‘Survive and Thrive’ Conference: Melbourne, Australia; June 2017.Google Scholar
4. McGrath Goodman, L. 9/11’s Second Wave: Cancer and Other Diseases Linked to the 2001 Attacks Are Surging. http://www.newsweek.com/2016/09/16/9-11-death-toll-rising-496214.html. Published July 9, 2016. Accessed August 9, 2017.Google Scholar
5. Solan, S, Wallenstein, S, Shapiro, M, et al. Cancer incidence in World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers, 2001-2008. Environ Health Perspect. 2013;121(6):699-705.Google Scholar
6. Fire Department, City of New York: Bureau of Health Services - WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program. World Trade Center Health Impacts on FDNY Rescue Workers. http://home2.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/publications/wtc_assessments/2007/wtc_2007.shtml. Accessed February 19, 2016.Google Scholar
7. Wisnivesky, JP, Teitelbaum, SL, Todd, AC, et al. Persistence of multiple illnesses in World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers: a cohort study. Lancet. 2011;378(9794):888-897.Google Scholar
8. Smith, E, Burkle, FM Jr. Are you ok? Recounting the long-term physical and mental health impacts of 9/11 medics. Presented at the Australian and New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management Conference: Gold Coast, Australia; May 2016.Google Scholar
9. McCallion, T. EMS providers recall 9/11. JEMS. https://www.jems.com/articles/print/volume-36/issue-9/september-11/ems-providers-recall-911.html. Published August 31, 2011. Accessed August 9, 2017.Google Scholar
10. Hartmann, E, Brezler, T. A systematic change in dreams after 9/11/01. Sleep. 2008;31(2):213-218.Google Scholar
11. Perlman, SE, Friedman, S, Galea, S, et al. Short-term and medium-term health effects of 9/11. Lancet. 2011;378(9794):925-934.Google Scholar
12 Clouston, SAP, Kotov, R, Pietrzak, RH, et al. Cognitive impairment among World Trade Center responders: long-term implications of re-experiencing the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Alzheimer's Dementia. 2016;(4):67-75.Google Scholar
13. Lippmann, M, Cohen, MD, Chen, LC Health effects of the World Trade Center (WTC) dust: an unprecedented disaster with inadequate risk management. Crit Rev Toxicol. 2015;45(6):492-530.Google Scholar
14. Berkowitz, GS, Wolff, MS, Janevic, TM, et al. The World Trade Center disaster and intrauterine growth restriction. J Am Med Assoc 2003; 290(5): 595-596.Google Scholar
15. Lederman, SA, Rauh, V, Weiss, L, et al. The effects of the World Trade Censter event on birth outcomes among term deliveries at three lower Manhattan hospitals. Environ Health Perspect. 2004;112(17):1772-1778.Google Scholar
16. Fairbrother, G, Stuber, J, Galea, S, et al. Posttraumatic stress reactions in New York City children after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Ambul Pediatr. 2003;3(6):304-311.Google Scholar
17. Boscarino, JA, Galea, S, Ahern, J, et al. Psychotic medication use among Manhattan residents following the World Trade Center disaster. J Traum Stress. 2003;16(3):301-306.Google Scholar
18. Galea, S, Vlahov, D, Resnick, H, et al. Trends of probable post-traumatic stress disorder in New York City after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Am J Epidemiol. 2003 ; 158(6):514-524.Google Scholar
19. Brackbill, RM, Thorpe, L, DiGrande, L, et al . Surveillance for World Trade Center disaster health effects among survivors of collapsed and damaged buildings. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2006;55(2):1-18.Google Scholar
20. Luft, BJ, Schecter, C, Kotov, R, et al. Exposure, probable PTSD, and lower respiratory illness among World Trade Center rescue, recovery, and clean-up workers. Psychol Med . 2012; 42(5):1069-1079.Google Scholar
21. Friedman, SM, Farfel, MR, Maslow, CB, et al. Comorbid persistent lower respiratory symptoms and posttraumatic stress disorder 5-6 years post-9/11 in responders enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry. Am J Ind Med. 2013;56(11):1251-1261.Google Scholar
22. Ly, L. 5,400 diagnosed with cancers linked to 9/11. http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/15/health/september-11-cancer-diagnoses/index.html. Published August 15, 2016. Accessed August 9, 2017.Google Scholar