On September 11, 2001, terrorists used hijacked airplanes as weapons to attack the United States. Two planes hit the World Trade Center towers in New York City. One plane flew into the side of the Pentagon. A fourth plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers stormed the cockpit. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attack.
In the aftermath, thousands of first responders converged on the sites of destruction, climbing through mountains of smoking debris and rubble in a race to find survivors. Ultimately, 8 EMS providers and 343 firefighters died that day and countless more have succumbed to 9/11-related illnesses from their time working at Ground Zero.
Read the stories of survivors, as well as how lessons learned are impacting the way first responders of today train and respond to incidents. To share your 9/11 story, email editor@ems1.com.
We should be out of excuses by now
A FF/paramedic captain recounts hunkering down with victims at the Pentagon on 9/11 while expecting another attack
Lt. Edith Torres was off-duty when the World Trade Center was struck, but she responded regardless
Christopher Suprun stands by his claim that he was a volunteer firefighter who responded to the Pentagon attack
Former firefighter and paramedic Christopher Suprun published an editorial this week in The New York Times explaining why he will not cast his vote for Trump
For some people, the condition is so debilitating that they have trouble going about daily routines
The legislation gives victims鈥� families the right to sue in U.S. court for any role that elements of the Saudi government may have played in the 2001 attacks
About 25 EMS professionals participated in the three-day, 150-mile bicycle ride that began Sept. 10 at the Flight 93 Memorial
The legislation gives victims鈥� families the right to sue in U.S. court for any role that elements of the Saudi government may have played in the 2001 attacks
Trauma care experts are increasingly focusing on ways to help civilian victims of violence avoid bleeding to death at the scene
Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the law Sunday, extending the deadline to Sept. 11, 2018
CPA by day, EMT-CC Gary Stehr gladly answers a third of his agency鈥檚 calls
Obama has threatened to veto the bill over potential backlash from the U.S. ally
Over 75,000 are being monitored for lung and asbestos-related cancers; 5,441 cases have already been diagnosed
The 15th anniversary is a time for quiet reflection and remembrance as well as a chance to discuss top lessons learned from a multitude of events since 9/11
Experts said it sounds an alarm about the long-lasting impact of PTSD and depression on the brain
Thousands of firefighters saluted a flag-draped casket passed carrying two tiny vials of blood, the only known remains of a comrade who died in the Sept. 11 attacks
Over two dozen first responders saluted the canine as she made her final visit to the veterinarian鈥檚
The first EMT-P Carlos Lillo-Lt. Ricardo Quinn Medal, which honors two paramedics who died on 9/11, given for bravery and dedication above and beyond the call of duty
Over 10,000 letters have been sent out in order to be qualified for World Trade Center disabilities
Benjamin Franklin Jones became a paramedic after a 40-year career with Monarch Life
Retired firefighter Ray Pfeifer fought for the extension of the Zadroga Act
The collection includes 200 oral histories and more than 1,000 photographs, manuscript materials, logbooks and indexes
The Zadroga Act extension was included in Congress鈥� year-end spending bill that was passed on Friday
The bill would extend federal health monitoring and treatment for 9/11 first responders through 2090
Commissioner William Bratton pushed Congress to renew the Zadroga Act, which expired this fall
Providing for injured responders shows that we stand behind our homeland defenders when the going gets tough
Only one of the four panelists from December 2010 Daily Show is healthy enough to reappear on the show
The Comedian continues his advocacy to renew a law that provides health benefits for first responders who became ill after the Sept. 11 terror attacks
Those using the Zadroga Act as a political bargaining chip need to be called to task for their actions
The World Trade Center Health Program, which provides health monitoring and treatment for first responders, expired this fall but has enough funding to operate into next year
The Zadroga Act expired this fall and supporters are hoping to get the extension passed before Congress leaves for the holidays
