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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Kristine Qureshi, RN, DNSc¹, Robyn, M. Gershon, DrPH², Marcie Rubin, MPH², and Martin Sherman, PhD³. (1) Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168t Street, New York, NY 11530, 212 305 1186, kaq5@columbia.edu, (2) Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 600 West 168th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10032, (3) Loyola University, 4501 North Charles Street, 222-B Beatty Hall, Baltimore, MD 21210

Purpose: Identify preexisting health conditions, injuries sustained, and on-going health problems in evacuees participating in the World Trade Center (WTC) Evacuation study.

Methods: A convenience sample survey of former WTC employees (N-1422). Results: Mean respondent age: 54. Of all respondents, 37% reported having at least one pre-existing health condition including: respiratory (27%), mental health (16%), cardiac (12%), vision/hearing (8%), and other (7%) problems. More than one third reported sustaining at least one injury during the evacuation including: psychological trauma (29%), and physical injuries (11%) - most commonly: orthopedic, surface, or head trauma, inhalation and eye injuries. Females were twice as likely as males to be injured during evacuation; those with a pre-existing health condition were 2.04 times more likely to become injured; 16% of evacuees reported long term health problems (mainly mental health and respiratory) related to the events. Most injured individuals received healthcare from their family physician; only 8.4% were hospitalized.

Conclusions: Most common injury was psychological trauma; being female or having a pre-existing medical condition increased the likelihood of sustaining an injury during evacuation; mental health and respiratory conditions represent the most common long term health consequences. As the U.S. population ages, a higher proportion of employees with disabilities or chronic health problems will constitute the workforce. Adequate provisions must be made to address the specific needs of these groups to assure rapid, safe emergency evacuation of buildings and limit injuries; post-event psychological care must be assured. Community level providers must be prepared to deliver post disaster care.

Learning Objectives: The learner will be able to

• describe the prevalence of health conditions and disabilities among WTC evacuees
• describe the nature of the most common injuries sustained during the evacuation of the WTC
• discuss the relationship between having a disability and sustaining an injury during a building evcuation
• discuss the importance of incorporating provisions for those with health conditions and disabilities in emergency planning for high rise evacuation

Keywords: Disability Policy, Disasters

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered