medicine on the western front Flashcards
Thomas splint:
developed by Hugh Owen Thomas
it helped to keep a fractured leg straight and reducing pain
decreasing the death rate from 80% to 20%
Arras hospital
was built by British and New Zealand soldiers before the battle in 1917
it was underground and its aim was to treat wounded soldiers effectively and quickly
700 beds and several operating theatres
was protected from shelling
Trench foot
it was caused by the exposure of cold and damp conditions for a prolonged amount of time often due to the waterlogged conditions of the trenches
their feet would become blistered, swollen and turn blue and their skin would start to rot away
treatment:change their socks regularly ,wash their feet and rub whale oil into their feet to keep their cool and lubricated
trench system
each trench was dug in a type of zigzag so that no enemy, standing at one end could fire for no more than few yards down its length
holes in the side of trenches known as dugouts provided cover for soldiers
what were the four theatres of war in Flanders and northern France
The Ypres salient,The Somme,Arras and Cambrai
formation of the Ypres salient:
created in 1914
Allied forces fought to stop the German advances leaving a bulge in the German line
vulnerable position of the Ypres Salient:
surrounded by three sides of German forces making it difficult to reinforce and resupply
strategic importance of the Ypres Sailent:
controlled access to the Channel ports which were crucial for British supply and reinforcements
difficult terrain of the Ypres Salient:
waterlogged soil making movement and evacuation of the wounded soldiers incredibly difficult
first use of gas in the second battle of Ypres
it was the first widespread use of chlorine gas which is poisonous by the Germans a devastating development in war fare
what happened on the first day of the Battle of Somme?
it was the bloodiest day in British military history with 19,000 soldiers killed and 37,000 soldiers wounded
how many casualties did British suffer from the Battle of Somme
42,000
battle of the somme
- it took place from the 1st July 1916-18th November 1916
-fought by British and French forces against the Germans
-it was part of an offensive to force the Germans back and achieve victory on the Western Front
what did the RAMC do?
Royal Army Medical corps
they were crucial in treating wounded soldiers on the Western front
what was the work of the nurses?
providing professional nursing care
driving motor ambulances
washing clothes
bathing the wounded
base hospitals:
what was the evacuation route:
it was a system used to move wounded soldiers from the front line to better-equipped medical facilities ultimately aiming to improve chances of survival
regimental aid post (RAP):
were located close to the front line, often in dugouts, and provided initial first aid to wounded soldiers
stretcher bearers would carry out the wounded from the front line to RAPs
dressing station:
were often set up in tents behind the trenches
seriously injured soldiers were moved to a CCS by a motor or horse-drawn ambulance
CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)
it was the first medical facility in which the moderately wounded soldiers were treated
treated by nurses, doctors and surgeons
contained hospital wards, operating theatres and mobile x-ray machines
