Effects of the Fort McMurray Wildfires on the Health of Evacuated Workers: Follow-Up of 2 Cohorts

• 2017

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• Nicola Cherry; Whitney Haynes
PMID: 28819065DOI: https://doi.org/10.9778/cmajo.20170047

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About

This article examines the health effects on individuals evacuated from Fort McMurray, Alberta, during the wildfire on May 3, 2016. A total of 129 participants, including workers from occupational health cohort studies, were assessed for respiratory and mental health impacts post-evacuation. Results showed that 33.9% reported health conditions immediately after the fire, with 10.1% reporting fire-related health issues at follow-up. Evacuated individuals experienced higher anxiety and depression scores compared to non-evacuees. The study highlights the importance of assessing the health impacts of natural disasters on evacuees and the need to address mental and physical well-being post-evacuation.

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Tags

Focus Areas: Mental Health; Natural Disasters

Audiences: Behavioral Health Professionals; Emergency Managers; EMS Clinicians

Emergency Management Stage: Recovery

Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Disaster Planning; Disasters; Health Surveys; Mental Health; Natural Disasters; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Occupational Health; Wildfires; Surveys and Questionnaires

Institutions: University of Alberta

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