Hillary: free health tests set for 9/11 EMS workers

Almost three years after the tragedy of Sept. 11, EMS workers and Firefighters who responded courageously to save the lives of their fellow New Yorkers at the World Trade Center are still feeling the effects. Many suffer from stress and related mental health issues and 35% still report respiratory symptoms.

An award of $81 million in grants from the U.S. Dept. of Health and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health will now provide free long-term health-screening for those workers and other responders.

“This is a tremendous step toward fulfilling our promise to the Firefighters, emergency workers and volunteers who labored at Ground Zero,” said Sen. Hillary Rodham-Clinton (D-NY). She announced the program April 6 in a news conference at Fire Dept. headquarters in Brooklyn.

“Emergency response workers and volunteers risked their own lives to help save others on Sept. 11. This is evidence that America has not forgotten,” she said.

DC 37 had pressed hard for the funding. Emergency Medical Service Locals 2507 and 3621 and the Safety Dept. played important roles and Executive Director Lillian Roberts met with Sen. Clinton on the issue. Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, who also participated in the press conference along with several labor leaders, highlighted the work of municipal unions in obtaining the funds. “The unions have worked tirelessly on behalf of their members,” he said.

“The ability to screen the long-term health of individuals who participated in the rescue and recovery effort at the World Trade Center is critical. Without the support of Senator Clinton and this grant, we would not have the financial resources,” said Mr. Scoppetta.

“The individuals who selflessly dedicated themselves in the days and months after Sept. 11th can rest assured that we will be able to identify any signs or symptoms that may indicate long-term illness as a result of their work,” he added. The grants will fund a five-year health screening program that will provide free, long-term medical monitoring of rescue workers who participated in the rescue and recovery effort at the World Trade Center.

The goal of the program is to identify any potential symptoms, injuries, or conditions that may indicate a long-term illness as a result of working at the WTC. The Fire Dept. will provide in-house clinical evaluations to FDNY Firefighters and EMS personnel. Clinical evaluations will begin in the coming months.

“Many people made the supreme sacrifice on that day,” said Israel Miranda, recording secretary of Uniformed EMTs and Paramedics Local 2507 at the press conference. “Now we have to take care of the living.”