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Div. of Media Relations
1600 Clifton Road
MS D-14
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 639-3286
Fax (404) 639-7394 |
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Embargoed until 4 p.m. ET January 10, 2002
Contact: Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC)
National Center for Injury
Prevention and Control
770-488-4298
Fact Sheet
Rapid assessment of physical injuries related to the attack on
the World Trade Center — New York City, September 11, 2001
The September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center
(WTC) killed and injured more people than any previous attack on a
civilian target in United States history. This study reveals the type and
severity of injuries among a sample of WTC survivors who received
emergency care at five New York City hospitals during the first 48 hours
after the attack.
- Among 790 injured survivors, emergency departments treated and
released 606 (77%) survivors; 139 (18%) were hospitalized for further
management.
- Inhalation injuries were the most common injuries in this group
(49%) followed by eye injuries (26%), lacerations (14%), and sprains
and strains (14%).
- More than half of survivors (56%) were treated for inhalation
injuries, eye injuries, or both without other injuries. Most of these
injuries were caused by smoke, dust, debris or fumes.
- Fractures (6%), burns (5%), and closed head injuries (2%) were less
common, but most survivors with these injuries required further
hospitalization for treatment.
- The arrival of survivors at nearby hospitals peaked 2 to 3 hours
after the first plane hit the WTC. Half of survivors received medical
care within 7 hours of the attack. Approximately one-quarter (282) of
survivors arrived at hospitals by emergency medical transport.
- Twenty-nine percent (320) of survivors treated were rescue
workers—firefighters, police officers, emergency medical services
personnel, and other disaster-related personnel.
- Rescue workers sustained more significantly more eye injuries than
other survivors (39% vs. 19%) but fewer burns (2% vs. 6%).
- The average age of WTC survivors in this study was 39 years and 66%
were male.
For more information about injuries, visit the CDC's website at www.cdc.gov/ncipc/.
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