Occupational protection of search and rescue personnel during earthquake response: an urgent call for integrated respiratory health surveillance

Diemen Delgado-García

Autores/as

Delgado-García Diemen Editor-in-Chief, Journal Gestar. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. United States. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2600-8425

Palabras clave:

salud ocupacional, salud respiratoria, rescatistas, prevención

Resumen

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46296/gt.v9i18.0385

Resumen

El personal de búsqueda y rescate (SAR) desplegado en operaciones de respuesta a terremotos está expuesto a riesgos aéreos complejos, como sílice cristalina respirable, fibras de amianto, partículas derivadas de la combustión y material particulado fino y ultrafino. La evidencia de grandes desastres, especialmente el colapso del World Trade Center y los recientes terremotos en Asia y Oriente Medio, demuestra tanto efectos respiratorios agudos como enfermedades crónicas de las vías respiratorias a largo plazo entre los rescatistas. A pesar de la solidez de esta evidencia, las medidas de protección de la salud ocupacional siguen implementándose de forma inconsistente en los entornos de respuesta a desastres en todo el mundo. La protección respiratoria se retrasa con frecuencia o se aplica de forma inadecuada durante las fases más peligrosas del despliegue, cuando la intensidad de la exposición es mayor. Este editorial destaca la brecha persistente entre la evidencia científica y la práctica operativa y aboga por la integración obligatoria de la protección respiratoria, la vigilancia estructurada de la salud ocupacional y el seguimiento a largo plazo del personal expuesto. Se propone un Marco de Protección del Rescatista simplificado pero integrado para guiar la prevención en las fases de preparación, despliegue y post-despliegue.

Palabras claves: salud ocupacional, salud respiratoria, rescatistas, prevención.

Abstract

Search and rescue (SAR) personnel deployed in earthquake response operations are exposed to complex airborne hazards, including respirable crystalline silica, asbestos fibers, combustion-derived particles, and fine and ultrafine particulate matter. Evidence from major disasters—most notably the World Trade Center collapse and recent earthquakes in Asia and the Middle East—demonstrates both acute respiratory effects and long-term chronic airway disease among responders. Despite the robustness of this evidence, occupational health protection measures remain inconsistently implemented in disaster response settings worldwide. Respiratory protection is frequently delayed or inadequately applied during the most hazardous phases of deployment, when exposure intensity is highest. This editorial highlights the persistent gap between scientific evidence and operational practice and argues for the mandatory integration of respiratory protection, structured occupational health surveillance, and long-term follow-up of exposed personnel. A simplified but integrated Rescuer Protection Framework is proposed to guide prevention across preparedness, deployment, and post-deployment phases.

Keywords: occupational health, respiratory health, rescuers, prevention.

Información del manuscrito:
Fecha de recepción: 14 de abril de 2026.
Fecha de aceptación: 18 de junio de 2026.
Fecha de publicación: 10 de julio de 2026.

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Citas

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