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Each year, fire
fighters respond to national disasters without concern for their
own personal safety. First responders have a right to know they
have been exposed to harmful substances in the course of their
duties.
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Following the
September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center, fire fighters
and other workers who spent substantial periods of time at
Ground Zero reported a variety of health problems, including
respiratory illness, pneumonia and asthma.
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To address these
concerns, Congress established a program to provide medical
screening and monitoring of workers engaged in rescue and
recovery operations at the World Trade Center site. This program
successfully documented health hazards, which allowed for the
detection and treatment of illness.
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Four years
later, many first responders continue to experience a variety of
health problems, including respiratory illnesses, as a direct
result of their work in and around Ground Zero. A few first
responders have recently died from diseases related to the
cleanup, such as black lung disease. Medical experts have warned
that additional respiratory and cancer related deaths are to be
expected among Ground Zero workers.
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In response to
Hurricane Katrina, fire fighters and other first responders
worked around the clock for days, wading through floodwaters
contaminated with chemical and biological hazards to perform
rescues, deliver life-saving emergency care, fight chemical
fires, recover bodies and assist victims.
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Although the
response to Katrina posed a great risk to first responders, to
date no medical monitoring program has been established for
them.
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S. 1741 and H.R.
3850 would authorize the establishment of medical monitoring
programs for first
responders and other individuals exposed to harmful substances
following a national disaster.
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Health
monitoring will allow for the early detection and treatment of
any potential physical or mental health impact, providing first
responders with valuable information to prevent long-term
illness and disability.
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The information
gained from health monitoring will lead to new ways to protect
fire fighters and prevent harmful exposures from future
disasters.
