15 Years Later, 9/11 Responders Face Daunting Health Problems
For those who rushed in to try to save people after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the toll has been steep. Some are dying, their bodies riddled with cancer, and others haven't even connected their symptoms to the work they did 15 years ago. And the mental toll on survivors and first responders continues to be high.
Los Angeles Times:
15 Years Later, Sept. 11 Responders Might Be Sick And Not Even Know It
Making the decision to help 15 years ago might end Garrett Goodwin's life early. Goodwin, 39, was one of tens of thousands of people at ground zero right after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. A trained medic, he traveled from Tampa, Fla., to New York to volunteer. But now, his lungs are failing him, and doctors say that will lead to his death. Goodwin is one of many volunteers who spent long hours toiling in the World Trade Center ruins, where toxic fumes have left many sick or dead. (Bowen, 9/9)
ABC News:
9/11 First Responders Battle Toxic Exposures 15 Years Later
In the years after the 9/11 attacks, health experts have learned more about how the debris, smoke and wreckage affected the health of first responders and other survivors of the attacks. Those who stayed in the area and breathed in the dust and smoke have been found to be more at risk for a host of health problems, including cancer, asthma, mental health disorders and gastrointestinal diseases. ... The FDNY reports that in addition to the 343 FDNY members killed on 9/11, another 127 firefighters have died of illnesses related to working at Ground Zero in the past 15 years. (Mohney, 9/11)
NBC News:
Endless Attack: Sick 9/11 Responders Still Struggle To Get By
Fifteen years have passed since the worst international terrorist attack in history claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people, more than 400 of whom were first responders. Since then, tens of thousands have developed illnesses stemming from exposure to toxins at Ground Zero. ... Under the 2005 World Trade Center Disability Law, public employees and retirees who became disabled as a result of September 11-related operations are entitled to a 75-percent disability pension. But in order to qualify, EMTs and rescue paramedics had to have submitted a sworn statement to the New York City Employee Retirement System (NYCERS) indicating the dates and locations of their participation at Ground Zero. (Margolin, 9/10)
CBS News:
9/11 Through A Child's Eyes: Survivor Overcomes PTSD, Addiction
This week, just days before the 15th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, [Helaina] Hovitz released a memoir entitled “After 9/11: One Girl’s Journey Through Darkness to a New Beginning.” In the book, she recounts the all-too familiar events of the day as seen through a child’s eyes. She also details her struggle through more than a decade of misdiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the alcoholism that came with it, and she writes about what finally helped her cope. (Welch, 9/9)
CBS News:
Growing Concern Over 9/11 First Responders' Mental Health
In a study of 813 first responders, 12.8 percent had cognitive impairment. Responders like [Anthony] Flammia, with a diagnosis of PTSD with flashbacks, were three times as likely to have impairment. The average age of the group was just 53. (Lapook, 9/9)
CNN:
15 Years After 9/11, Parents Turn Pain Into Purpose
Strange. Beautiful. Disconcerting. For Liz and Steve Alderman, those were their first reactions when they walked into the 9/11 Memorial just days before the somber 15-year mark since the terror attack here. ... They founded The Peter C. Alderman Foundation (PCAF) in 2002 with the mission of helping "one of the world's most vulnerable populations recover from the emotional wounds of war," with a focus on mental health rehabilitation for victims of terror and the trauma of war. Liz and Steve have built the foundation into a $1.5 million-a-year organization operating in Cambodia, Uganda, Kenya and Burundi, and also working in refugee camps. (Harlow, 9/9)
Meanwhile, strides have been made in the area of trauma care —
Kaiser Health News:
Better Training, Tourniquets And Techniques Since 9/11 Are Saving Lives
Kaiser Health News staff writer Rachel Bluth reports: "War abroad and carnage at home since 9/11 have taught Americans much about saving lives after violent tragedies. Whether they were hurt in mass shootings or gruesome car accidents, it’s not uncommon for victims to bleed to death on the scene because trained assistance didn’t arrive in time to help them. But one of the most powerful initiatives in trauma care in the past 15 years might make a difference." (Bluth, 9/12)
