trenches 3

Question 1

problems in the chain if evacuation

Answer 1

One feature was…
Injuries were so severe.

Life threatening injuries ended up being dealt with at the Regimental Aid Posts.

A second feature was…
Stretcher bearers were slow in their work.

Slowness of stretcher bearers meant patients could not be easily and quickly moved down the chain of evacuation.

Question 2

new medical techniques that were developed

Answer 2

One feature was…
Setting wounds.

From December 1915, the Thomas Splint was used as a secure way of setting wounds and this reduced deaths from broken limbs to 20%.

A second feature was…
Portable X-Rays.

X-Rays were a new invention and a method needed to be developed where they could be transported across the battlefield in ambulance trucks.

Question 3

how blood transfusions were improved

Answer 3

One feature was…
Adding Sodium Citrate to blood.

In 1915, Richard Lewisohn discovered adding this stopped blood clotting. It allowed it to be stored for days in a fridge.

A second feature was…
Adding Citrate Glucose to blood.

In 1916, Francis Rous and James Turner, discovered adding this to blood allowed it to be stored for months.

Question 4

how surgery was improved

Answer 4

One feature was…
Harold Gillies developed a way of regrowing damaged tissue.

He tied the injured part of the body to an unaffected part of the body with a skin chord known as a “pedicle”.

A second feature was…
Previously damaged faces could be rebuilt.

Gillies technique allowed facial tissue to regrow.

Question 5

how storing blood got better

Answer 5

One feature was…
In preparation for the Battle of Cambrai in 1917, Oswald Hope Robertson stored 22 units of blood in the world’s first blood bank.

A second feature was…
At the time it was called a “blood depot”.

He used it to treat Canadian soldiers who were suffering from shock.