MEDICINE western front

What time period is the British sector of the Western Front?

1914–1918

What type of warfare was used on the Western Front?

Trench warfare

What were trenches?

Deep ditches dug into the ground for soldiers to fight from

What were conditions like in the trenches?

Mud, rats, lice, poor sanitation

What disease was caused by wet conditions in trenches?

Trench foot

What caused trench foot?

Standing in cold, wet conditions for long periods

What happened if trench foot was untreated?

Amputation

What caused trench fever?

Lice

What were symptoms of trench fever?

Fever, pain, fatigue

What were the main types of injuries on the Western Front?

Gunshot wounds, shrapnel wounds, burns, gas attacks

What caused shrapnel wounds?

Exploding shells

What was shell shock?

A psychological condition caused by trauma

What were symptoms of shell shock?

Tremors, nightmares, inability to function

What gases were used in WW1?

Chlorine gas, mustard gas

What did mustard gas cause?

Severe burns, blindness, lung damage

What was the main problem with wounds in WW1?

Infection

What is the Chain of Evacuation?

A system to treat and move injured soldiers

What was the first step in the Chain of Evacuation?

Regimental Aid Post (RAP)

What happened at the RAP?

Basic first aid near the front line

What was the second step?

Field Ambulance

What happened at the Field Ambulance?

More treatment, preparation for transport

What was the third step?

Casualty Clearing Station (CCS)

What happened at the CCS?

Surgery and more advanced care

What was the final step?

Base Hospital

What happened at Base Hospitals?

Full treatment away from the front line

What is triage?

Prioritising patients based on severity of injury

Why was triage important?

It ensured efficient use of medical resources

Who was Harold Gillies?

A surgeon who developed plastic surgery

Why was plastic surgery needed?

To treat severe facial injuries

What was the Thomas Splint?

A device used to treat broken legs

Why was it important?

Reduced death rates from fractures

What were blood transfusions?

Transferring blood to replace lost blood

Why were blood transfusions important?

Prevented death from blood loss

Who were Henry Dakin and Alexis Carrel?

Developers of antiseptic wound treatment

What was the Carrel-Dakin method?

A system to clean wounds with antiseptic solution

What was gas gangrene?

A serious infection in deep wounds

Why was gas gangrene dangerous?

It spread quickly and could be fatal

What factors led to medical advances in WW1?

Warfare, urgency, technology

Why did war speed up medical progress?

High number of injuries required rapid solutions

What is the overall judgement of medicine on the Western Front?

Significant improvements in surgery and treatment due to war