Dear Flight Attendants,
For those of you who were around in 2007, you may recall participating in the Harvard Flight Attendant Healthy Study. The 2007 survey was the first time that Flight Attendant health had been mapped on a broad scale. For instance, the study determined that the prevalence of respiratory disease amongst Flight Attendants was approximately three times that found in the general U.S. population. In addition, sleep disorders, fatigue, depression and heart disease were greatly increased in female Flight Attendants compared to baseline.
Harvard is in the process of repeating the study to determine any trends in these conditions—especially as Flight Attendants age. An on-line version of the study is being kicked off with Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants sometime in the next week or so before the holiday season begins. AFA believes it is extremely important for our members to participate in the survey in order to track long-term health trends amongst Flight Attendants.
We know December is an extremely busy time for everybody, but your Master Executive Council (MEC) would be very grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete the survey should you be selected to participate. Be looking for an email from the Harvard Flight Attendant Health Study in the near future!
In solidarity,
Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Terry Taylor, Yvette Gesch, Melanie Buker, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow
