National Jewish Offers Free Medical Screening for People Who Helped at the World Trade Center Site

National Jewish Medical and Research Center
Monday, 3 February 2003

Many people from Colorado and surrounding states who helped with rescue, recovery, and clean-up efforts at the World Trade Center are at risk for respiratory and other health problems. National Jewish Medical and Research Center is offering free and confidential health screening for anyone who helped at the World Trade Center.

"Preliminary findings from screenings done in New York City indicate that about half of the World Trade Center responders screened so far continued to suffer respiratory problems 10 months to a year after the WTC disaster," said Cecile Rose, M.D., Director of the Environmental and Occupational Health Clinic at National Jewish. "We can help people identify health problems resulting from their work at the WTC site. Even if people don't notice any symptoms they may have lung function abnormalities that need attention."

Early detection of health problems can lead to earlier, and often more effective treatments. The most commonly reported symptoms are throat irritation, dry cough, blowing nose more often than normal, chest tightness, head or sinus congestion, and shortness of breath.

The World Trade Center Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program is a federally funded program supported by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention. For more information or to arrange a health screening call 1-888-702-0630. Information is also available on the Internet at www.WTCexams.org.

For more information, or to contact National Jewish Medical and Research Center, see their website at: www.njc.org