Hero For More Than A Day:
An Analysis On The Lasting Health Effects Of The Firefighter Of 9/11
“The attacks of September 11th were intended to break our spirit. Instead we have emerged stronger and more unified.” - Rudy Giuliani.
On the day of the attacks, there were approximately 11,000 firefighters ready to be heroes. Unfortunately, 343 firefighters were instantly killed by the collapse of the World Trade Centers (Holt). The firefighters put their lives on the line to save as many people as possible with their strong spirit knowing that they might not have lived through it. Despite this, their mission to work together and save lives continued for several days, and they stayed mentally and physically strong throughout this tragedy. Even after the attacks, the firefighters had to stay and search for bodies and survivors in the rubble of the towers. They were able to continue to search and do their job because of their ability to put their emotions aside at that time. Firefighters have suffered severe PTSD and respiratory ailments and other physical problems due to the 9/11 attacks; these health issue continue to haunt them to this day. With their fighting spirit, they are tackling these problems one day at a time.
The 9/11 attacks took a large toll on many firefighters’ mental and even physical health. Their lives before 9/11 working as firefighters were much different. Sure, there were a few missions that maybe left them a little distraught, but none of these missions can compare to what the firefighters experienced during 9/11. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is less common among firefighters than in people who have served in the military or have been through a very traumatic experience, but it is still very much real. As a firefighter, the majority of your job will be putting out fires. Though, being a first responder means that you will see some very graphic things that will scar you. Firefighters are exposed to things such as a victim being “dead on arrival.” These types of experiences often result in the firefighters, or other first responders, feeling very stressed. When you have been doing this for years, it adds up, often leaving firefighters not being able to forget about these things causing high amounts of anxiety. Studies have shown that anywhere between 7% and 37% of firefighters have met the criteria for PTSD. Firefighters are trained to deal with this sort of stuff, but after many years of picking up and seeing dead bodies and even not being able to save someone's life, it adds up and causes high stress and even PTSD. In conclusion, some firefighters experienced stress and PTSD before the 9/11 attacks.
As we all know, 9/11 was one of the largest terrorist attack in the world. The news of the first plane hitting the North World Trade Center spread around the world instantly. The earth seemed as if it stood still for the day. Panic ensued throughout that week. Lives were lost. Some people went to work that day and never came back. The families of these victims will never be the same. All around the world there was a moment of silence for the loss of life. One person from Germany reported that all the German Schools tests that were the scheduled for day were canceled. The teacher said that everyone was too shocked to study. But it affected the people who were living in the New York City the most. It not only took a major toll on the people mentally, but also affected them physically. Research shows that 15 years after the attacks, 5,441 people have been diagnosed with cancer related to 9/11 (Ly). That number includes first responders, people who were right next to the attacks, and people who were even a couple of blocks away from the Towers. But these effects were observed after the attacks along with many other things such as putting us into war with Afghanistan. Less than a month after the attacks, troops invaded Afghanistan looking to dismantle both the Taliban and the infamous terrorist group, Al - Qaeda. Roughly 2 million soldiers entered either Afghanistan or Iraq. Six Thousand American troops were killed and around 44,000 have been wounded between 2001 and 2011. Another very controversial and large change was immigration and deportation laws. The Bush administration created the “Department of Homeland Security.” After 9/11, the deportation rates more than doubled. In the first two years after 9/11 there were more than 400,000 immigrants being deported (Green). In conclusion, 9/11 had a lasting effect on our society today.
The mental and physical health of the firefighters was immediately affected by the attacks. Years later, they are still dealing with the massive repercussions of it. To begin with, many firefighters who were on the scene wound up suffering from PTSD. For some firefighters, PTSD diminished over the years following 9/11. But, for the group of firefighters who retired after 9/11, signs of PTSD increased. Due to their retirement, firefighters have more time to sit and think and relive this tragedy. Four years after the attacks, twenty-two percent of the firefighters who responded to 9/11 were still suffering from PTSD. Based on this data, it is evident that the recovery rate varies from person to person. Another aftermath of the attacks is the declining of the firefighters’ health. The firefighters who were first on the scene suffered the most because they were exposed to over 400 chemicals from the towers. “Approximately 12,000 firefighters worked the scene after the planes hit the two towers; those who were present during the collapse lost the most lung capacity, while responders who showed up later sustained less lung damage” (Devone-Pacheco). Some of the symptoms of lung damage are vertigo, shortness of breath, and chronic coughing. Also, these firefighters are at high risk of lung cancer because all of the chemicals that entered their lungs during the attacks. In addition to lung ailments, they have suffered from gastrointestinal problems and memory loss are some other health conditions that have affected them. Overall, the attacks took a major toll on the firefighters’ mental and physical health, which has affected their quality of life.
Now, we all know that 9/11 took a massive toll on the first responders who helped save many lives. It also affected the civilians who were just near the attacks. These effects can be seen through lasting physical problems and mental problems. Years later, the health effects that the firefighters experienced just months after the attacks are still haunting them. For example, one firefighter named John experienced short breath and other lung problems. This isn’t some unusual as many firefighters who served or helped in 9/11 ended up with some sort of problems with their lungs. But some people think that the mental problems that the firefighters experienced were much worse. One article stated that anniversaries are difficult events because they remind the firefighters, and the civilians, about the death of the people that they loved. It is like when a soldier comes home, they are constantly struggling with the thought of never seeing some of their friends again, or just the sheer horror of war itself. It is not easy for them but there are cures for this. Some say that simple therapy will help with this.
In conclusion, 9/11 was a tragedy that no American or anyone will forget. It was the most deadly terrorist attack in the world. Almost 3,000 innocent people lost their lives that day. The first responders risked their lives to save hundreds if not thousands of people. With this comes a massive sacrifice that led to the deaths of hundreds of people. The health effects immediately affected the firefighters severely but the effects continued for years after.
The 9/11 attacks took a large toll on many firefighters’ mental and even physical health. Their lives before 9/11 working as firefighters were much different. Sure, there were a few missions that maybe left them a little distraught, but none of these missions can compare to what the firefighters experienced during 9/11. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is less common among firefighters than in people who have served in the military or have been through a very traumatic experience, but it is still very much real. As a firefighter, the majority of your job will be putting out fires. Though, being a first responder means that you will see some very graphic things that will scar you. Firefighters are exposed to things such as a victim being “dead on arrival.” These types of experiences often result in the firefighters, or other first responders, feeling very stressed. When you have been doing this for years, it adds up, often leaving firefighters not being able to forget about these things causing high amounts of anxiety. Studies have shown that anywhere between 7% and 37% of firefighters have met the criteria for PTSD. Firefighters are trained to deal with this sort of stuff, but after many years of picking up and seeing dead bodies and even not being able to save someone's life, it adds up and causes high stress and even PTSD. In conclusion, some firefighters experienced stress and PTSD before the 9/11 attacks.
As we all know, 9/11 was one of the largest terrorist attack in the world. The news of the first plane hitting the North World Trade Center spread around the world instantly. The earth seemed as if it stood still for the day. Panic ensued throughout that week. Lives were lost. Some people went to work that day and never came back. The families of these victims will never be the same. All around the world there was a moment of silence for the loss of life. One person from Germany reported that all the German Schools tests that were the scheduled for day were canceled. The teacher said that everyone was too shocked to study. But it affected the people who were living in the New York City the most. It not only took a major toll on the people mentally, but also affected them physically. Research shows that 15 years after the attacks, 5,441 people have been diagnosed with cancer related to 9/11 (Ly). That number includes first responders, people who were right next to the attacks, and people who were even a couple of blocks away from the Towers. But these effects were observed after the attacks along with many other things such as putting us into war with Afghanistan. Less than a month after the attacks, troops invaded Afghanistan looking to dismantle both the Taliban and the infamous terrorist group, Al - Qaeda. Roughly 2 million soldiers entered either Afghanistan or Iraq. Six Thousand American troops were killed and around 44,000 have been wounded between 2001 and 2011. Another very controversial and large change was immigration and deportation laws. The Bush administration created the “Department of Homeland Security.” After 9/11, the deportation rates more than doubled. In the first two years after 9/11 there were more than 400,000 immigrants being deported (Green). In conclusion, 9/11 had a lasting effect on our society today.
The mental and physical health of the firefighters was immediately affected by the attacks. Years later, they are still dealing with the massive repercussions of it. To begin with, many firefighters who were on the scene wound up suffering from PTSD. For some firefighters, PTSD diminished over the years following 9/11. But, for the group of firefighters who retired after 9/11, signs of PTSD increased. Due to their retirement, firefighters have more time to sit and think and relive this tragedy. Four years after the attacks, twenty-two percent of the firefighters who responded to 9/11 were still suffering from PTSD. Based on this data, it is evident that the recovery rate varies from person to person. Another aftermath of the attacks is the declining of the firefighters’ health. The firefighters who were first on the scene suffered the most because they were exposed to over 400 chemicals from the towers. “Approximately 12,000 firefighters worked the scene after the planes hit the two towers; those who were present during the collapse lost the most lung capacity, while responders who showed up later sustained less lung damage” (Devone-Pacheco). Some of the symptoms of lung damage are vertigo, shortness of breath, and chronic coughing. Also, these firefighters are at high risk of lung cancer because all of the chemicals that entered their lungs during the attacks. In addition to lung ailments, they have suffered from gastrointestinal problems and memory loss are some other health conditions that have affected them. Overall, the attacks took a major toll on the firefighters’ mental and physical health, which has affected their quality of life.
Now, we all know that 9/11 took a massive toll on the first responders who helped save many lives. It also affected the civilians who were just near the attacks. These effects can be seen through lasting physical problems and mental problems. Years later, the health effects that the firefighters experienced just months after the attacks are still haunting them. For example, one firefighter named John experienced short breath and other lung problems. This isn’t some unusual as many firefighters who served or helped in 9/11 ended up with some sort of problems with their lungs. But some people think that the mental problems that the firefighters experienced were much worse. One article stated that anniversaries are difficult events because they remind the firefighters, and the civilians, about the death of the people that they loved. It is like when a soldier comes home, they are constantly struggling with the thought of never seeing some of their friends again, or just the sheer horror of war itself. It is not easy for them but there are cures for this. Some say that simple therapy will help with this.
In conclusion, 9/11 was a tragedy that no American or anyone will forget. It was the most deadly terrorist attack in the world. Almost 3,000 innocent people lost their lives that day. The first responders risked their lives to save hundreds if not thousands of people. With this comes a massive sacrifice that led to the deaths of hundreds of people. The health effects immediately affected the firefighters severely but the effects continued for years after.
Works Cited
Jervis, Rick. "15 Years after Sept. 11, the Questions That Still Remain in Our Minds." USA
Today. Gannett Satellite Information Network, 9 Sept. 2016. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.
History.com Staff. "Reaction to 9/11." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 23
Mar. 2017.
Green, Matthew. "How 9/11 Changed America: Four Major Lasting Impacts (with Lesson Plan)."
The Lowdown. KQED News, 6 Sept. 2016. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.
Hartocollis, Anemona. "10 Years and a Diagnosis Later, 9/11 Demons Haunt Thousands." The
New York Times. The New York Times, 09 Aug. 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.
Harmon, Katherine. "The Changing Mental Health Aftermath of 9/11--Psychological "First Aid"
Gains Favor over Debriefings." Scientific American. Scientific American, 09 Sept. 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.
"We Remember Section: Side Effects." FireRescue1. FireRescue1, 1 Sept. 2006. Web. 23 Mar.
2017.
Devone-Pacheco, Cindy. "Side Effects." Fire Rescue. Fire Rescue, 01 Sept. 2009. Web. 23
Mar.2017.
"Emergency Workers Killed in the September 11 Attacks." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11
Mar. 2017. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.
Holt, Donald Van. "THE UNOFFICIAL HOME PAGE OF FDNY." THE UNOFFICIAL HOME
PAGE OF FDNY New York City Fire Department. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.
Ly, Laura. "5,400 Diagnosed with Cancers Linked to 9/11." CNN. Cable News Network, 15 Aug.
2016. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.
Jervis, Rick. "15 Years after Sept. 11, the Questions That Still Remain in Our Minds." USA
Today. Gannett Satellite Information Network, 9 Sept. 2016. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.
History.com Staff. "Reaction to 9/11." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 23
Mar. 2017.
Green, Matthew. "How 9/11 Changed America: Four Major Lasting Impacts (with Lesson Plan)."
The Lowdown. KQED News, 6 Sept. 2016. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.
Hartocollis, Anemona. "10 Years and a Diagnosis Later, 9/11 Demons Haunt Thousands." The
New York Times. The New York Times, 09 Aug. 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.
Harmon, Katherine. "The Changing Mental Health Aftermath of 9/11--Psychological "First Aid"
Gains Favor over Debriefings." Scientific American. Scientific American, 09 Sept. 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.
"We Remember Section: Side Effects." FireRescue1. FireRescue1, 1 Sept. 2006. Web. 23 Mar.
2017.
Devone-Pacheco, Cindy. "Side Effects." Fire Rescue. Fire Rescue, 01 Sept. 2009. Web. 23
Mar.2017.
"Emergency Workers Killed in the September 11 Attacks." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11
Mar. 2017. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.
Holt, Donald Van. "THE UNOFFICIAL HOME PAGE OF FDNY." THE UNOFFICIAL HOME
PAGE OF FDNY New York City Fire Department. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.
Ly, Laura. "5,400 Diagnosed with Cancers Linked to 9/11." CNN. Cable News Network, 15 Aug.
2016. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.