NYCRA News

The model of the FIRST RESPONDERS CANCER RESOURCE (formerly 9/11CANCERSCAN) awareness program was founded in part with the technical technical collaboration and personal insight of (Ret) Firefighter SALVATORE "SAL" BANCHITTA from Engine 316 of the 49 Battalion. Sal was one of many first responders in 9/11. His professional commitment to the FDNY and to the City of New York placed his life and well-being at extremely elevated risks in many rescue calls and even more so each day that he spent directly exposed to the deadly dust of Ground Zero. His experiences as a 9/11 rescue member help us identify the magnitude of issues that all workers underwent inside the highly toxic disaster zone, illustrating how so many have contracted the most traumatic illnesses and cancers. Mr. Banchitta, now retired from “the job”, continues to support the entire community of first responders as a health and wellness advocate and a public speaker about maintaining continued health checkups and a pr...

Industry reports show e mergency response professionals have the highest health risks including injuries to the body- and THE MIND [3] .   In a study that examined the prevalence of resilience among New Yorkers during the 6 months after 9/11, 65% of participants showed resilience (ability to recover)... suggesting that more cases demonstrated resilience than previously believed. Even among those with the highest levels of exposure and highest probable PTSD, the proportion that were resilient never dropped below 33%. [1] Mental Health is a concern in the first responder community especially since the 9/11 attacks where traumatic experiences could greatly affect our lives in complex and debilitating ways. Here are some troubling signs that may indicate a need for help. FLASHBACKS that bring you back to the traumatic event and away from present reality regularly INSOMNIA due to fear of vivid dreams of the event or fear of rumination about specifics of the traumatic event causing...