World War One
During World War 1, over 9 million were killed along with the over million who men were injured. World War One was the first war fought with machine guns. Machine guns not only presented a challenge to soldiers but to doctors as well. They forced doctors and nurses to discover new ways of dealing with injuries. Chemical gases were also a new invention which caused burning and respiratory issues.
Where a soldier ended up after being injured depended largely on the severity of his injury. After being taken from the trenches on stretchers, they would be taken by ambulance to a nearby medical center. Soldiers used the system of triage, which divided the injured into three groups. The slightly injured soldiers were treated quickly in order to be returned to battlefield. The more severely injured soldiers had to be taken to hospital where they were often operated upon. The third group were those who were deemed to be "beyond help" (Science Museum). With the lack of resources, the third group received little attention and was basically left to die. Soldier moral must have been low because soldiers went into battle knowing that the smallest injury could cause to their death. Any injury too severe for medical supplies was not treated. Doctors had to determine who to save and who to let die. Those soldiers who were injured were not given anything to ease their suffering because troops simply lacked the supplies.
There were four kinds of cases of injury, gas injuries, shell shock, disease, and wounds. Shell shock is another word for mental illness which became more common as the war progressed. Those who suffered from it could be hysterical, paralyzed, confused, and unable to follow orders (NCpedia). These soldiers were taken from the war front to prevent them from fusing harm to themselves or other soldiers. Disease was a major killer during the war. Doctors had little methods of solving influenza and intestinal flu, making them one of the most common killers. The number of men killed by diseases outnumbered that of the men killed by machine bullets (NCpedia).
Where a soldier ended up after being injured depended largely on the severity of his injury. After being taken from the trenches on stretchers, they would be taken by ambulance to a nearby medical center. Soldiers used the system of triage, which divided the injured into three groups. The slightly injured soldiers were treated quickly in order to be returned to battlefield. The more severely injured soldiers had to be taken to hospital where they were often operated upon. The third group were those who were deemed to be "beyond help" (Science Museum). With the lack of resources, the third group received little attention and was basically left to die. Soldier moral must have been low because soldiers went into battle knowing that the smallest injury could cause to their death. Any injury too severe for medical supplies was not treated. Doctors had to determine who to save and who to let die. Those soldiers who were injured were not given anything to ease their suffering because troops simply lacked the supplies.
There were four kinds of cases of injury, gas injuries, shell shock, disease, and wounds. Shell shock is another word for mental illness which became more common as the war progressed. Those who suffered from it could be hysterical, paralyzed, confused, and unable to follow orders (NCpedia). These soldiers were taken from the war front to prevent them from fusing harm to themselves or other soldiers. Disease was a major killer during the war. Doctors had little methods of solving influenza and intestinal flu, making them one of the most common killers. The number of men killed by diseases outnumbered that of the men killed by machine bullets (NCpedia).
The First World War did have its share of new technology, trains and ambulances were used to transport soldiers and made the treatment faster process. During the war the french created the concept of the 'golden hour,' the idea that patients must be treated with-in 60 minutes of multiple traumas (Science Museum). The most common ways of diagnosing and treating injuries were amputation, x-rays, and blood transfusions. Amputations were key to the survival of many soldiers. During the war 2,635 soldiers from the United States were amputated upon (Amputee Coalition). If the soldiers were not amputated upon they most likely would have died of blood loss or infection. However, at this time there was not much of a system to aid returning soldiers with amputations.
Mobile X-ray units were utilized to locate bullets, from new machine guns, and shrapnel. This made it easier for surgeons to complete procedures, by knowing what they were dealing with before they began operating. Although the X-rays used in World War 1 gave doctors a very basic idea of the injuries. They were able to see the cause of the wound but necessarily the damage that it had caused.
Mobile X-ray units were utilized to locate bullets, from new machine guns, and shrapnel. This made it easier for surgeons to complete procedures, by knowing what they were dealing with before they began operating. Although the X-rays used in World War 1 gave doctors a very basic idea of the injuries. They were able to see the cause of the wound but necessarily the damage that it had caused.
Pre-World War One blood transfusion was done rarely due to its inability to be done safely until a scientist was able to identify blood types. In the First World War, scientists, Geoffrey Keynes, created a machine which could carry blood or transfusions (Science Museum). This made battlefield blood transfusions more common. The issue with transfusions was that they were often unsanitary and there was a high chance that things could go wrong.
During World War 1 the technology available was enough to get the job done, but it was ineffective and left many soldiers to die. Doctors were unable to treat many of the diseases which ailed their patients and due to lack of resources many soldiers were left untreated. The system of treatment worked for the number of people and the supply of resources, but it left many hard decisions. With the lack of efficient equipment one can imagine that it might take even longer for a soldier to be treated. Looking back on the events of World War One it is much easier to identify the faults which led to the deaths of millions of soldiers, for the soldiers fighting in the battle the equipment they had was the best they were going to get. In preparation for the next war, many people looked bcd at the inefficiencies of World War One and looked to solve them.
During World War 1 the technology available was enough to get the job done, but it was ineffective and left many soldiers to die. Doctors were unable to treat many of the diseases which ailed their patients and due to lack of resources many soldiers were left untreated. The system of treatment worked for the number of people and the supply of resources, but it left many hard decisions. With the lack of efficient equipment one can imagine that it might take even longer for a soldier to be treated. Looking back on the events of World War One it is much easier to identify the faults which led to the deaths of millions of soldiers, for the soldiers fighting in the battle the equipment they had was the best they were going to get. In preparation for the next war, many people looked bcd at the inefficiencies of World War One and looked to solve them.