CHIEF
MEDICAL OFFICER
September 24, 2002
Good morning, Chairman Jeffords, Ranking Minority
Smith and members of the committee. My
name is Dr. Kerry Kelly, and I am the chief medical officer for the New York City
Fire Department. Thank you for the
opportunity to speak to you today.
It has been a year since our view of the world was
changed forever. It has been a year
when unimaginable brutality was met by extraordinary acts of humanity.
As chief medical officer for the fdny, it has been my privilege to care
for the health and well being of our 15,000 fire fighters, fire officers,
emergency medical technicians and paramedics.
On 9/11 our members responded to the call for help at the World Trade Center. The members of fdny came from every Borough and from every rank to assist in
the rescue of victims and suppression of fire.
Focused on their tasks, they acted without regard for their own safety
to help their fellow citizens. Three
hundred forty-three members of the Fire Department gave their lives that
day. We should not overlook the lives
saved by their heroism. The members of
the New York City Fire Department facilitated the evacuation of more than
25,000 people, the largest rescue operation in United States history.
Despite these staggering
losses, the members of the FDNY persisted in their work after the collapse of
the towers. Over the course of the
following weeks and months, our members worked around the clock, seven days a
week in both the suppression of fires, which burned until December, and the
rescue and recovery efforts that continued until may.
Obviously, this has been a difficult year for our
surviving members, whose physical health and emotional well being have both
been deeply affected.
In the initial collapses, the pulverized towers sent
a caustic cloud of black soot, gritty powder and choking debris showering down
on the survivors, blanketing our members and the surrounding area. Every breath was made difficult as the air
became thickened with particulate matter.
The injuries to our workforce during this last year have been described
in detail in the attached two manuscripts published in the 9/10/02 issues of
the CDC – MMWR (morbidity and mortality weekly report) and the New England
journal of medicine. Two hundred and
forty firefighters and emergency medical technicians were seen in emergency
rooms that day. Most were treated and
released with respiratory and eye irritation, but over twenty-eight members
remained in the hospital, some with life threatening trauma-related and
inhalation injuries. Over 90 members
remain off the line with orthopedic injuries due to the WTC attack.
As our other members continued to work at
the site, medical leave remained low as members dedicated themselves to the
task at hand. But as the weeks passed,
respiratory difficulties grew with increasing symptoms of cough, wheezing and
congestion. In response to these symptoms, our FDNY Bureau of Health Services
partnered with the CDC and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) to develop a specialized comprehensive medical examination to evaluate
our members who had been at the WTC.
Our existing infrastructure with the pre-existing database for the
uniformed forces gave us the ability to evaluate pre- and post-WTC
results. From October through February
over 10,000 medical examinations were performed. The most significant changes occurred in pulmonary function
testing and in hearing evaluations.
Approximately 90 percent of our rescue workers
experienced cough symptoms within 48 hours after the WTC attack. Fifteen hundred of the members showed a
decline in pulmonary function testing but because their pre-WTC baseline was
way above normal, their pulmonary function remained acceptable and they could
continue to work. During the months
after the attack, over 1,876 members required medical leave for significant
cough and respiratory symptoms.
Although some of these members were treated and returned to duty, over
332 firefighters had cough and other respiratory symptoms severe enough to
require four or more consecutive weeks of medical leave. The majority of these
individuals showed significant changes in their pulmonary function tests as
well as cough complaints. Despite
treatment, 52 percent of these individuals have not recovered sufficiently to
return to full duty firefighting duties.
It is estimated that nearly 500 members may have persistent respiratory
disability.
Since the attack our members have also struggled with the emotional consequences of losing colleagues, near-death experiences and digging through tons of rubble to find those who perished. The emotional toll of this event has been great. Again our Department was fortunate to have in place an existing counseling services unit. This unit has been expanded with funding provided by project liberty through the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). Utilizing this important funding, we have been able to provide needed services to our members. Over 3,000 members have been evaluated for stress reactions, grief and bereavement, as well as post-traumatic stress symptoms. New counseling programs and initiatives have been developed to meet the new needs created by this event. These programs include bereavement groups for members and their families, WTC survivor groups, couples connections, a program to facilitate communication between spouses, as well as individual counseling. Fortunately, with treatment some members have been able to return to full duty. Currently about 250 members remain on leave with service-connected stress problems.
One year after the attack, the Fire Department
of New York continues to rebuild and recover, forever changed by the events of
9/11. For our members it has been a
difficult year. Our members experienced the direct trauma of the World Trade Center
collapse. They faced the loss of friends and family members. They spent months
searching and recovering those who perished, while attending daily memorial and
funeral services for their fallen brothers. The Department has been further
affected by the retirement of senior and seasoned members. While there are many factors to the
increased retirements, a significant portion of the decisions are affected by
the psychological trauma of September 11.
We also expect that up to 500 of those suffering from respiratory
problems will be permanently disabled by the condition, including many whose
careers will be shortened by their disability.
The members of the NYC Fire Department responded to
the call for help on 9/11 and they have not stopped responding since that
day. They have given many times over as
they dedicated themselves to the recovery at the site and in their support of
the deceased families. The initial Federal
resources that our Department was given have been utilized to help us begin to
rebuild. But our ongoing efforts must be supported as we continue to monitor
the health of our members as they cope with the physical and emotional stress
of 9/11. Senator Clinton’s amendment
would make $90 million available for health screenings and long-term monitoring,
and this funding is extremely important.
Clearly, our recovery did not end with the closing
of the site. It is an ongoing process
that requires attention to the medical and emotional well being of our members.
Thank you for your past support. We ask for your continued support as our
efforts continue. Of the many vivid
images that remain in our memory from 9/11, the raising of the American flag by
our three firefighters gave heart to a grieving nation. Let’s continue to support the firefighters
and first responders who gave so much to our country.