Impact of World Wars on health, poverty and housing

What factors affected the world wars?

Evacuation, diet, hygiene and disease, penicillin

How many British people evacuated?

3 million British children moved to the countryside to be safe from air raids and bombs

What did people in the countryside realise due to the evacuations?

Many were shocked at the levels of poverty they witnessed from some of the children, leading to further support for social reform

What did evacuation help pave the way for?

The National Health Service in 1948

How did the diets of many British people change during the wars?

The government encouraged people to grow their own food due to shortages, which often included fresh vegetables - this improved the diets of many

How was hygiene increased and disease reduced during the war

Posters warned against the dangers of poor hygiene in an effort to maintain the health of the nation. A national vaccination programme against diphtheria (a bacterial infection) was also introduced since it previously killed many children

How was penicillin used?

To treat soldiers with infected wounds, which saved the lives of millions

When did the Germans produce penicillin?

In 1944 - but Allied forces bombed the factories which produced it, giving the Allies a huge advantage during the war as they could heal their soldiers more effectively