TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - The occupational health effects of responding to a natural gas pipeline explosion among emergency first responders - Lincoln County, Kentucky, 2019
JO  - Disaster medicine and public health preparedness
A1  - Bui, David P.
A1  - Kukielka, Esther A.
A1  - Blau, Erin F.
A1  - Tompkins, Lindsay K.
A1  - Bing, K. Leann
A1  - Edge, Charles
A1  - Hardin, Rebecca
A1  - Miller, Diane
A1  - House, James
A1  - Boehmer, Tegan
A1  - Winquist, Andrea
A1  - Orr, Maureen
A1  - Funk, Renée
A1  - Thoroughman, Doug
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess occupational health effects 1 month after responding to a natural gas pipeline explosion. <br><br>METHODS: First responders to a pipeline explosion in Kentucky were interviewed about pre- and post-response health symptoms, post-response health care, 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. <br><br>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 1 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. <br><br>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 health care when needed.    Keywords: Pipeline transportation<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1935-7893
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2021.266
ID  - ref1
ER  -