The forgotten responders: the ongoing impact of 9/11 on the Ground Zero recovery workers

Smith, Erin C., and Burkle, Frederick M. (2018) The forgotten responders: the ongoing impact of 9/11 on the Ground Zero recovery workers. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 33 (4). pp. 436-440.

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Abstract

In the years following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks (9/11; New York USA), emergency first responders began experiencing a range of physical health and psychosocial impacts. Publications documenting these tended to focus on firefighters, while emerging reports are starting to focus on other first responders, including paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and police. The objective of this research was to explore the long-term impact on another important group of 9/11 responders, the non-emergency recovery workers who responded to the World Trade Center (WTC) site of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In the 16 years following 9/11, Ground Zero recovery workers have been plagued by a range of long-term physical impacts, including musculoskeletal injuries, repetitive motion injuries, gait deterioration, and respiratory disorders. Psychosocial issues include posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, insomnia, support system fatigue, and addictive and risk-taking behaviors. These findings go some way to filling the current gap in the understanding on the long-term impact of 9/11 and to provide an important testimony of the "forgotten responders" - the Ground Zero recovery workers.

Item ID: 55563
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1945-1938
Keywords: 9/11, ground zero, recovery worker, long-term impact, terrorism
Copyright Information: Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2018
Funders: Edith Cowan University
Date Deposited: 12 Sep 2018 08:40
FoR Codes: 35 COMMERCE, MANAGEMENT, TOURISM AND SERVICES > 3505 Human resources and industrial relations > 350505 Occupational and workplace health and safety @ 50%
42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4203 Health services and systems > 420309 Health management @ 50%
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