Western Front

• The Thomas Splint: Stopped joints moving and increased survival rates from 20 to 82%
• Reduced infection from compound fractures
• X-rays: Developed in 1895, X-rays used to diagnose issues before operations
• X-rays could not detect all problems, were fragile and overheat.
• Mobile X-rays: 6 operated on the front line, used to locate shrapnel and bullet wounds
• Blood Transfusions: Blood loss = major problem
• Blood transfusions were used at Base Hospitals by a syringe and tube to transfer blood from patient to donor.
• Blood transfusions were extended to CCS from 1917.
• Blood was stored in glass bottles at a blood bank and used to treat wounded soldiers.
• A blood bank was established at Cambrai, adding Sodium Citrate allowed blood to be stored for longer.
• Brain surgery: Magnets used to remove metal fragments from the brain
• Plastic surgery: Harold Gillies developed new techniques, skin drafts developed for grafts.
• Evacuation route: Survival depended on speed of treatment
• Care improved as war progressed
• In 1914, there were 19140 motor ambulances but by 1915, it was 250
• Ambulance trains were introduced, as well as, ambulance barges used along River Somme
• Stretcher bearers: Collect wounded, 16 in each battalion + 4 for each stretcher
• Regimental Aid Post: Always close to the front line and staffed by a Medical officer selected those who were lightly wounded/needed more attention.
• Field Ambulance and Dressing Station: Emergency treatment for wounded.
• Casualty Clearing Station: Large, well equipped station, 10 miles from trenches.
• Base Hospitals: X-ray, operating theatre and areas to deal with gas poisoning.
• Underground hospital at Arras: Running water, 700 beds and operating theatre.
• FANY: First Aid Nursing Yeomanry. Founded in 1907 by a soldier who hoped they would be a nursing cavalry to help the wounded in battle.
• RAMC: Royal Army Medical Corps. This organisation organised

  and provided medical care. It consisted of all ranks from doctors to ambulance drivers and stretcher bearers.
• Triage: A system of splitting the wounded into groups according to who needed the most urgent attention.
• The Ypres Salient: Germans had the advantage with being on the higher ground. Tunnelling and mines were used by the British at Hill 60. First Battle of Ypres - 1914. Second Battle of Ypres -1915. Third Battle of Ypres - 1917.
• Arras: Battle of Arras - 1917. Before the battle, Allied soldiers dug tunnels below Arras. Tunnels led to rooms and included an underground hospital.
• Cambrai: Battle of Cambrai -1917. 450 tanks used to advance on the German position, however, plan did not work because there was not enough infantry to support.
• Impact of terrain on helping the wounded: Difficult to move around, + night, communication was difficult, collecting wounded from No Man's Land was dangerous. Stretcher bearers found it difficult to move around corners and transport of the wounded was difficult because of this.
• Trench fever is caused by body lice and includes flu-like symptoms such as high temperature.
• Passing electric current through an infected area was effective in treating Trench fever.
• Clothes were disinfected and delousing stations were set up to prevent Trench fever.
• Trench fever affected 0.5 million people during the war.
• Soldiers were advised to keep clean but worst cases, amputation was necessary for Trench foot treatment.
• Prevention for Trench foot involved changing socks and keeping feet dry, and rubbing whale oil into feet.
• Trench foot affected 20,000 people in the winter of 1914-1915.
• There was no well understood treatment for Shell-shock.
• Prevention for Shell-shock involved rest and some received treatment in the UK.
• Shell-shock affected 80,000 people during the war and some were shot.
• Machine guns fired 500 rounds a minute.