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How Can EMTs and Paramedics Get Mesothelioma by Occupational Exposure to Asbestos?
EMTs and paramedics render aid to people in emergency situations and transport them to medical facilities for further treatment. They may control bleeding, perform CPR, administer oxygen, stabilize fractures or administer basic medications, based on the situation. Additionally, they may help with search and rescue missions. This job may require them to enter burning buildings or dilapidated buildings in order to rescue people from dangerous situations. When paramedics are deployed into situations in which buildings are damaged or destroyed, they run the risk of being exposed to asbestos and other dangerous materials.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once used extensively in construction materials throughout the 20th century. Its resistance to heat and ability to strengthen other materials made it a highly sought after product. It was found in walls, floors, ceilings, roofing materials, insulation and many other materials. When buildings are burning or damage has been done to them, asbestos dust can fill the air where EMTs, firefighters and other first responders may breathe it in.
Paramedics and other first responders may have been exposed to asbestos when they responded to the 9/11 and other terrorist attacks. These workers stayed in an environment laden with dust that included 2,000 tons of asbestos and other carcinogens for several weeks, attempting to find survivors and recover bodies of victims.
Paramedics may also be exposed to asbestos in hospitals. Many of them are older and may contain products that contained asbestos. Boilers, pumps, HVAC equipment and valves all contained asbestos, so if these materials were exposed when paramedics went in and out of hospitals, they could have breathed in the dangerous fibers emanating from them.
Common duties of paramedics and EMTs include:
- Respond to emergency calls for medical assistance
- Assess patients’ medical conditions and determine an appropriate course of treatment
- Render first-aid treatment or life support to patients
- Safely transport patients to medical facilities
- Document medical care provided to patients
Locations in the United States for the Highest Employment Rates for EMTs and Paramedics
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently 262,100 EMTs and paramedics employed in the United States. This profession has an anticipated 7% rate of growth from 2018 to 2028, which is faster than the average rate of growth. States with the highest employment rates for EMTs and paramedics include:
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Florida
Similar Occupations as EMTs and Paramedics
Similar occupations as EMTs and paramedics include:
- Emergency management directors
- Firefighters
- Medical assistants
- Physician assistants
- Police and detectives
- Registered nurses
Lawsuits and Settlements Involving EMTs and Paramedics and Mesothelioma
EMTs and paramedics who develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases may have several options to pursue compensation after receiving their diagnosis. Workers’ compensation benefits may be available to provide for medical care and partial wage replacement. If the company that manufactured asbestos products has gone bankrupt, it is possible that it established a bankruptcy trust fund during this process to provide compensation from claimants who were adversely affected by their products. Victims may also decide to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the parties responsible for their asbestos exposure.
Studies Related to EMTs, Paramedics and Asbestos
There have been a number of studies related to asbestos exposure and first responders. For example, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health published a study in 2013 in which researchers assessed 30,000 firefighters. They concluded that firefighters’ cancer risk was much higher than that of other occupations. They also had a mesothelioma incidence rate that was about double that of the general public because of their increased levels of asbestos exposure. Other first responders have a similar risk when responding to emergencies where damaged asbestos is present.
Regarding the 9/11 attack and asbestos exposure to first responders, several studies have shown a link between first responders and increased risks of cancer, PTSD, COPD, asthma and other health issues. Because mesothelioma has a long latency period, experts predict that mesothelioma diagnoses for first responders of 9/11 will peak between 2021 and 2041.
Types of Asbestos Products Used by EMTs and Paramedics
EMTs and paramedics may breathe in asbestos fibers from products such as:
- Insulation
- Floor tiles
- Sheet rock
- Sealants
- Paint
- Joint compounds
- Ceiling tiles
Manufacturers of Asbestos Products Used by EMTs and Paramedics
Some of the largest manufacturers of asbestos products that EMTs and paramedics may have been exposed to include the following:
- 3M
- Aurora Pump Company
- Bath Iron Works
- Bechtel Corporation
- Boise Cascade Corporation
- Buffalo Pumps, Inc.
- CertainTeed Corporation
- Crown, Cork & Seal Company
- Electric Boat Corporation
- Fisher Scientific Company
- Foster Wheeler Corporation
- Gardner Denver, Inc.
- Georgia Pacific Corporation
- Gould’s Pumps, Incorporation
- John Crane Company
- Johns Manville
- Metalclad Insulation
- Milwaukee Valve Company
- Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corp.
- Owens-Illinois, Inc.
- Viking Pump, Inc.
- Warren Pumps, Inc.
- Westinghouse Electric Corp
- Worthington Corp.
