Abstract
BackgroundNorway experienced two terror attacks on July 22, 2011. A car bomb exploded in the Oslo government district killing eight people. Shortly after, 69 adolescents gathered at a political youth camp were shot and killed at Utøya Island. First responders were exposed to multiple risk factors for the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS).MethodsThis cross-sectional study investigated the degree of perceived peritraumatic strain among police officers, fire-fighters, and ambulance personnel, as well as the prevalence and predictors of PTSS. A questionnaire was completed by 89 ambulance personnel, 73 fire-fighters, and 76 police officers working close to the terror sites, 8–11 months after the event. PTSS were assessed using the PTSD Check List (PCL-S).ResultsMerging all groups, 68% reported to have witnessed injured/dead people, but only 5.7% reported this as very/extremely strainful. The PCL-S scores were low and not significantly different among the three professions (Median = 19-20, range 17-64). The prevalence of possible PTSD (cut-off > 50) was 1.3 %, and 2 % had scores indicating sub-threshold PTSD. Dissociation predicted higher PTSS-level in all groups (β 1.6-5.1), witnessing injured/dead among ambulance personnel (β 2.5) and feeling overwhelmed among police officers (β 1.2).ConclusionFirst responders were exposed to deaths, injuries, and destruction, but few reported this as highly stressful. The prevalence of possible PTSD was low in all occupational groups, and symptoms of dissociation were found to be the most important predictor.
Highlights
Norway experienced two terror attacks on July 22, 2011
Most of the police officers worked in the Oslo government district whereas the fire-fighters were located mainly at Utøya Island
Most of the first responders had over five years of work experience
Summary
A car bomb exploded in the Oslo government district killing eight people. 69 adolescents gathered at a political youth camp were shot and killed at Utøya Island. A bomb was detonated in the government district of Oslo. During the second attack 69 young adults and teenagers, participating at the Norwegian Labour Party’s summer youth camp, were shot and killed. At Utøya Island, there was no possibility of escape other than swimming, and Terror attacks affect the victims and their families, but the rescuers experience extensive damage, death, and casualties. Sometimes, they even put their own lives and health in danger. These events impose unfamiliar and heavy demands, in particular on the first responders
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