Paramedic and emergency medical technician reflections on the ongoing impact of the 9/11 terrorist attacks
Open accessAbstract
IntroductionIn the years following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City (New York USA), otherwise known as 9/11, first responders began experiencing a range of health and psychosocial impacts. Publications documenting these largely focus on firefighters. This research explores paramedic and emergency medical technician (EMT) reflections on the long-term impact of responding to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. METHODS: Qualitative methods were used to conduct interviews with 54 paramedics and EMTs on the 15-year anniversary of 9/11. RESULTS: Research participants reported a range of long-term psychosocial issues including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, insomnia, relationship breakdowns and impact on family support systems, and addictive and risk-taking behaviors. Ongoing physical health issues included respiratory disorders, eye problems, and cancers.DiscussionThese findings will go some way to filling the current gap in the 9/11 evidence-base regarding the understanding of the long-term impact on paramedics and EMTs. The testimony of this qualitative research is to ensure that an important voice is not lost, and that the deeply personal and richly descriptive experiences of the 9/11 paramedics and EMTs are not forgotten. SmithEC, BurkleFMJr. Paramedic and emergency medical technician reflections on the ongoing impact of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2019;34(1):56-61.
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Approximately one-third of emergency responders meet criteria for other common mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders.
“approximately one-third of emergency responders meet criteria for other common mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders (1, 5, 15–18).”
From Pilot outcomes and exploration of treatment mechanisms using a culturally adapted version of the unified protocol for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders to improve mental health symptoms, alcohol misuse, functional outcomes, and sleep quality in emergency responders (2025) · cites this paper as [18]
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- Authors
- Smith, E. C., & Burkle, F. M.
- Affiliations
- Edith Cowan University (AU)
- Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (US)
- Corresponding author
- Smith, Erin C.
- Venue
- Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2019-02
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 56-61
- ISSN
- 0882-7397 (ISSN-L)
- 1049-023X
- 1945-1938
- OpenAlex
- W2911686819
- Cited by
- 27
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4
- FWCI
- 2.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- ro.ecu.edu.au
- Locations
- Prehospital and Disaster Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ResearchOnline at James Cook University (James Cook University) (submittedVersion)
- Australasian Journal of Paramedicine (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Performance
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Emergency Medical Services › Disaster Response and Management
- Keywords
- September 11 attacks, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, first responders, long-term health effects, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosocial impact, respiratory diseases, cancer, addictive behavior, family support, 15th anniversary
- MeSH terms
- Allied Health Personnel, Emergency Medical Technicians, Humans, Interviews as Topic, United States, September 11 Terrorist Attacks
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