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The occupational health effects of responding to a natural gas pipeline explosion among emergency first responders — Lincoln County, Kentucky, 2019
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10 2022
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Source: Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 16(5):1997-2004
Details:
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Alternative Title:Disaster Med Public Health Prep
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Description:Objective:
Assess occupational health effects one month after responding to a natural gas pipeline explosion.
Methods:
First responders to a pipeline explosion in Kentucky were interviewed about pre- and post-response health symptoms, post-response healthcare, and physical exertion and personal protective equipment (PPE) use during the response. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between several risk factors and development of post-response symptoms.
Results:
Among 173 first responders involved, 105 (firefighters [58%], emergency medical services [19%], law enforcement [10%], and others [12%]) were interviewed. Half (53%) reported at least one new or worsening symptom, including upper respiratory symptoms (39%), headache (18%), eye irritation (17%), and lower respiratory symptoms (16%). The majority (79%) of symptomatic responders did not seek post-response care. Compared with light-exertion responders, hard-exertion responders (48%) had significantly greater odds of upper respiratory symptoms (aOR: 2.99, 95% CI: 1.25–7.50). Forty-four percent of responders and 77% of non-firefighter responders reported not using any PPE.
Conclusions:
Upper respiratory symptoms were common among first responders of a natural gas pipeline explosion, and associated with hard-exertion activity. Emergency managers should ensure responders are trained in, equipped with, and properly use PPE during these incidents and encourage responders to seek post-response healthcare when needed.
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Pubmed ID:34544524
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC8934741
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