Items Tagged with 'First responders'

San Francisco – First responders who were exposed to particulate matter at Ground Zero during and after 9/11 may be at higher risk for sleep apnea and post-traumatic stress disorder, suggest two new studies presented March 20 at the American Heart Association's EPI/NPAM 2014 Scientific Sessions.

Washington – NIOSH has launched an initiative aimed at better protecting responders before, during and after a large disaster.

New York – The nation is not prepared to protect emergency response workers’ safety and health should another 9/11-scale disaster occur, according to a report from the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health.

New York – Exposure to toxic dust at Ground Zero on 9/11 may have caused kidney damage among first responders, according to a new study from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

First responders are at risk for exposure to bloodborne pathogens such as hepatitis B and C and HIV, NIOSH warns. Exposure can occur by way of needlesticks; contact with contaminated sharp objects; or eye, mouth, nose or broken skin contact with blood or other potentially infectious bodily fluids.

Floodwaters can be contaminated with any number of dangerous substances that may cause serious illness or even death, such as micro-organisms, sewage and industrial waste. It is imperative to maintain good hygiene when working in areas affected by floods.