Injuries and Illnesses Among American Red Cross Responders—United States, 2008–2012. (29th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brinker, Kimberly; Head, Catherine A.; Johnson, Candice Y.; Funk, Renée H.
• Is Part Of: Disaster medicine and public health preparedness. Volume 8:Number 5(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 404
• Page End: 410
• Publication Date: 2014-10-29
• Subjects: Disaster medicine -- Periodicals; Emergency management -- Planning -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 363.34
• DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2014.99
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1935-7893

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="abs1" sec-type="general"> <title>Objective</title> <p>Occupational injury and illness rates for volunteer responders have not been well documented. We analyzed data specific to volunteers from the American Red Cross (ARC).</p> </sec> <sec id="abs2" sec-type="methods"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Data collected by the ARC between 2008 and 2012 were analyzed to identify disaster factors associated with responder injuries and illnesses. We focused on disaster-relief operation (DRO) level (indicating operational costs, ranging from 3 [lower] to 5+ [higher]); disaster type; region; and year. We calculated injury and illness rates and estimated rate ratios (RR) with 95% CI, using negative binomial regression. Also, we analyzed a total of 113 disasters.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs3" sec-type="results"> <title>Results</title> <p>Hurricanes had the highest rates of injuries (14/1000 responders) and illnesses (18/1000 responders). In the adjusted model for injuries, RRs were higher for DRO levels 4 (3.6 [CI, 2.0–6.7]) and 5+ (4.9 [CI, 2.2–11.0]) than for level 3. In the adjusted model for illnesses, RRs also were higher for DRO levels 4 (4.4 [CI, 2.6–7.3]) and 5+ (8.6 [CI, 4.1–17.7]) than for level 3.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs4" sec-type="conclusions"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Higher DRO levels were a significant predictor of greater rates of occupational injuries and illnesses. Careful selection of responders, including volunteers, has been warranted for deployments to such disasters. (<italic>Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness.</italic> 2014;0:1-7)</p> </sec> </abstract>