Health Effects from 9/11: Lessons Learned

Categories: Emergency Response/Public Sector, Observances, World Trade Center Health Program

September 11th, 2015 8:30 am ET - Max Lum, Ed.D., MPA

Today, as the world remembers the terrorist attacks of 9/11 we must also remember that tens of thousands of responders and survivors of the disaster continue to suffer adverse health effects every day. Multiple types of toxic exposures were encountered by the responders, clean-up personnel and residents of the surrounding community. A new Continuing Medical Education (CME/CE) activity from the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program with the assistance of Medscape-WebMD provides a better understanding of the important lessons learned from the 9/11 disaster (see video announcement from Dr. John Howard below).

It is estimated that over 400,000 people were exposed to toxic contaminants, risks of traumatic injury, and physically and emotionally stressful conditions in the days, weeks and months following the attacks. Symptoms of 9/11 conditions include chronic cough, shortness of breath, sinus congestion, certain cancers, stress related disorders, and depression among the many other symptoms and conditions. Currently, over 72,000 responders and survivors receive care from the WTC Health Program, which was created under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010.

This program, in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and administered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, provides monitoring and medical care for specific health conditions that have been determined to be 9/11-related. Healthcare services and monitoring are provided in the New York metropolitan area and throughout the country. In addition, the program is sponsoring research to better understand the health conditions faced by 9/11 responders and survivors.

Healthcare providers affiliated with the program can provide specialized healthcare for 9/11 responders and survivors. The new CME training is a resource for clinicians, students, emergency preparedness personnel as well as those wanting a better understanding of the important lessons learned from the 9/11 disaster. The training is free and includes four educational modules. We encourage you to review these articles even if you do not wish to take them for CME/CE credit.

Access the full CME/CE program @ http://www.medscape.org/viewcollection/33376