There are many associated risks for first responders when responding to terrorist events. When first responders respond to a terrorist attack there are possible environmental and physical risks; however, physical risks can create environmental hazards and vice-a-versa. For instance, emergency responders may enter into an environment with “biological or chemical agents, radioactive materials, or hazardous air pollutants from collapsing buildings or destruction of buildings might be imminent” (Guide, 2002, p.29). Structural damage and deadly pipeline, sewer systems, bridges or tunnel damage may cause additional environmental or physical risks to first responders (Guide, 2002). While the first responders are involved in the disaster, they can be in danger of inhalation of hazardous materials, and building debris hazards, among other physical and emotional problems after the attack.
When first responders react to a terrorist attack, there is the potential …show more content…
Some contributing factors as noted by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States (2004) “it is possible that a person who worked above the impact zone had not yet reached his or her office and was killed below the impact zone, either by fallen debris, fireballs from the explosion, or by being trapped in an elevator” (p. 553). The extent of damage to the Twin Towers turned the firefighting effort into an evacuation. While getting citizens out of the towers, the first responders were dealing with the heat and smoke from the disaster. Their personal protect equipment (PPE) gloves, pants, jackets, gas masks, helmets, oxygen tanks, etc. helped the first responders combat the environmental and physical risks in the building. Finally, there are many threats and risks involved in a terrorist attack, but with the assistance of the hazardous material identification system and proper PPE first responders can cope with each