Oklahoma City Bombing
In April 1995, bombings and terrorist activity had little effect on the daily lives of American people. Americans lived with the illusion that terrorists operated in other countries and bombs only exploded in faraway cities -- never at home. On April 19, 1995, that illusion was replaced by a terrible reality when a fellow American, with the help of others, used a truck bomb to attack his countrymen working at or visiting the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.
In the days, weeks, and months following the bombing, numerous public agencies, private businesses and organizations pulled together to help the injured and grieving populace, catch the perpetrators, assess the damage, and analyze the event to learn how such events could be prevented.
The Commissioner of Health designated physical injuries and other health-related conditions associated with the bombing a reportable condition for special study. The Injury Prevention Service of the Oklahoma State Department of Health conducted the study and compiled a registry that included information for 1,259 injured and uninjured persons who were directly exposed to the bombing. The purpose of the study was to assess the extent of fatal and nonfatal injuries, disabilities, and costs associated with the bombing. Additionally, from 1996 to 1998, the Injury Prevention Service contacted survivors to collect further information on the causes of bombing injuries, long-term health problems, and medical costs associated with the bombing.
- Summary of Reportable Injuries: Oklahoma City Bombing Injuries
- Physical injuries and fatalities resulting from the Oklahoma City bombing. Journal of the American Medical Association 1996;276(5):382-387.
- Injuries to rescue workers following the Oklahoma City bombing. American Journal of Industrial Medicine 1997;31:727-732.
- The EMS response to the Oklahoma City bombing. Pre-Hospital and Disaster Medicine 1997;12(2):9-14.
- A prospective study of long-term health outcomes among Oklahoma City bombing survivors. Journal of the Oklahoma State Medical Association 1999;92(4):178-186.
- Ocular injuries sustained by survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing. Ophthalmology 2000;107(5):837-843.
- Preventing fatalities in building bombings: What can we learn from the Oklahoma City Bombing? Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness July 2007(1);27-31.
- Factors Associated with Injury Severity in Oklahoma City Bombing Survivors. Journal of Trauma 2009;66:508-515.
- Injury perceptions of bombing survivors--interviews from the Oklahoma City bombing. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2008 Nov-Dec;23(6):507-9.
- Search PubMed for more articles on the Oklahoma City bombing.
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