Author Archives: Michael Barasch
More Evidence of Long-Term Illness in 9-11 EMS Responders
According to a study published in the journal, Occupational & Environmental Medicine, when tracked over 12 years following the attacks, EMS 9/11 responders were seven times more likely to have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than EMS workers who didn’t work that day. And the risk of obstructive airway disease was more than doubled in EMS […]
Court Rules 9/11 First Responder Can Keep PTSD Workers’ Comp Benefits
A New York appellate court recently ruled that a New York police officer will be allowed to keep workers’ compensation benefits he was awarded for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder from working as a responder after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. At the time of the attacks, the officer, Richard Regan, was sent for six days […]
Firefighters More Susceptible to Cancer than Most
There are many inherent dangers to being a firefighter. Burns, falling beams, collapsing structures and inhalation of smoke and fumes are all common dangers that they must face and overcome. Some dangers of the position lie hidden for years, however. There is a lot of research that suggests that firefighters are more susceptible to cancer […]
Re-Authorization of The James L. Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act has Bi-Partisan Support
In 2011, Congress passed the James L. Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act, which established a program within the Department of Health and Human Services to provide medical monitoring and treatment benefits to workers who responded to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It also provided initial health evaluations, monitoring and treatment benefits to residents, […]
Inspirational Art Arrives in the World Trade Center
When the new World Trade Center commissioned artists to come in and bring some life to the new facility, they instructed them to make the artwork “unifying.” While the art doesn’t specifically depict the history of the site, there was an understanding among all of the artists that it would always be in the background […]
Hero from September 11 Attacks Dies of Cancer
William Sheldon Jr., a hero at Ground Zero on the day of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, died of cancer recently, becoming the first member of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to die from cancer related to the attack. He was only 47 years old. Sheldon was a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and […]
Overseer of 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund Shares Challenges of His Position
Kenneth Feinberg, the Special Master of the original September 11 Victim Compensation Fund, recently spoke at length to students of Franklin Pierce University about the challenges of his position as part of a course offered by the university called “America and 9/11.” The class runs a full semester and takes an in-depth look at how […]
NYPD Unions Endorse Candidate Who Supports Zadroga Act Extension
Current Richmond County District Attorney Daniel Donovan received some major backing when two New York Police Department unions offered their endorsement for him in the race for the 11th Congressional District. The special election to fill the vacant seat left by recently resigned Rep. Michael Grimm will take place May 5. Grimm previously plead guilty […]
