Authors
Tak-S; Driscoll-R; Bernard-B; West-C
Source
J Urban Health 2007 Mar; 84(2):153-161
Abstract
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health conducted an evaluation regarding physical and psychological health symptoms among New Orleans firefighters 13 weeks after Hurricane Katrina struck the U.S. Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005. This report examines associations between depressive symptoms and concurrent comorbidity. Depressive symptoms were twice as likely among those with either lower respiratory symptoms or skin rash. Firefighters housed with their families were less likely to report depressive symptoms compared to those not living with their families. Perceived low supervisor support was associated with depressive symptoms, whereas participating in group counseling was not. The results underscore the need for the incorporation of physical and psychological health follow-up of emergency responders after natural disasters to better understand, monitor, and treat their health conditions.
Keywords
Psychological-factors; Psychological-effects; Psychological-factors; Psychological-fatigue; Psychological-reactions; Psychological-stress; Physical-reactions; Physical-stress; Physiological-effects; Physiological-response; Physiological-testing; Respiratory-irritants; Skin-disorders; Fire-fighters; Rescue-workers; Emergency-responders
Contact
Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, R-10, Cincinnati, OH 45236
Document Type
Journal Article
Source Name
Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine