Mass administration of oxygen, Middlesex Hospital, Mortimer Street, Westminster, Greater London

Photograph taken 10 May 1940 © Source: Historic England Archive ref: med01_01_0751

Patients wearing 'B.L.B. masks' which are fed from the central control of the R.A.F. equipment for the multiple administration of oxygen. A 'B.L.B. mask' allowed the administration of oxygen in concentrations ranging from that in air to pure oxygen. It used a mechanically simple and easy to operate device. The mask was also more comfortable and allowed patients to eat and speak whilst wearing it. It was worn by pilots on commercial American airlines, and used in the delivery of oxygen at high altitudes.

Location

Greater London Westminster

Period

World War Two (1939 - 1945)

Themes

Bottles of dried plasma being packed together with the giving sets in special cases for transport to the Middle East or where needed. The outbreak of World War Two had prompted work investigating the division of blood into its constituent parts, because whole blood was difficult to transport to overseas battlefields. Plasma is the fluid in the blood containing proteins that help blood to clot. Liquid plasma, though more efficient to transport than whole blood, was similarly difficult to convey to battle and administer in the field. Dried plasma was introduced, with the benefits of stability, more economical storage and transportation, and ease of preparation. The “dried plasma sets” packed and despatched overseas consisted of a bottle of dried plasma, a tin box containing sterile giving set, and a bottle of sterile water. It took minutes for the dried plasma to be adequately dissolved in the water; concentrated plasma could be obtained by adding less distilled water.

Mass administration of oxygen, Middlesex Hospital, Mortimer Street, Westminster, Greater London

Location

Period

Themes

Tags