Health Challenges Faced By the 9/11 Operators

Health Challenges Faced By the 9/11 Operators

The 9/11 attack is one of the most talked-about attacks in the world. While this is so, most people ignore the health challenges the 9/11 operators faced. Understanding some of these challenges could help create a better environment for dispatch workers if something similar happens. This article explores all these health challenges, including the effects they had on their social lives.

PTSD

Undoubtedly, various operators and dispatchers that worked on the 9/11 tragedy witnessed significant mental turmoil. Getting some of these experiences out of their mind proved quite hard, forcing them to slump into depression, stress, and PTSD. PTSD is a disorder characterized by the failure to recover from such terrifying events.

Various operators suffered PTSD for a significantly long time, some lasting between months and years. Unfortunately, some dispatchers and operators have never snapped out of this condition. That means they suffer hallucinations, flashbacks, and nightmares from time to time. Since it was hard for them to forget stuff that could bring back the trauma, anxiety and depression became inevitable.

Addressing PTSD is a hassle. It requires multiple therapy sessions, where CBT and Eye Movement Desensitization approaches suffice. SSRIs could also come in handy in alleviating anxiety and moodiness.

Emotional Instability

Emotional health is vital whenever you want to boost your productivity levels. Unfortunately, most 9/11 dispatchers and operators have never gotten back to their previous emotional health stability. This element implies that their emotions remain unpredictable at all times.

Since then, it has become hard for these operators to take control of calls. It also became difficult for these operators to get all the information conveyed by a caller. Moreover, operators became a little too snappy, increasing the risk of conflict with a caller, especially when dissatisfied.

Respiratory Health Issues

Various toxic substances were spread during the attack, exposing operators and other citizens to considerable health complications. For instance, these operators had asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease, obstructive pulmonary disease, and rhinosinusitis. Individuals who inhaled this toxic dust ended up with one or even multiple respiratory conditions, some fatal.

Remember, this dust affected several parties, including rescue, cleanup, and recovery workers. Some of the first responders were the most affected.

Risk of Cancer

From toxins to smoke, the risk of cancer is inevitable. Most 9/11 operators and workers were linked with various cancers, thanks to their exposure to toxins. A few of the most common cancers during this time included thyroid cancer, multiple myeloma, and prostate cancer. Maneuvering this menace was hard for most workers.

Physical Injuries

Physical injuries were common among several workers, from the rescue and recovery teams to operators and dispatchers. You can attribute this to their exposure to broken glass and metal, which injured most people. Some of these injuries took too long to heal, while others had more severe effects, including paralysis and crippling.

In conclusion, 9/11 workers and operators faced significant health challenges. Some of these challenges have spanned a long time, causing further mental and financial anguish among the survivors. A look at the challenges mentioned above will help you understand the tragedy’s impact on workers’ health.

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