ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel The Infographics Show What Life Was Like Trapped Inside an Iron Lung
Unless you’re a medical professional, you might not know what an “iron lung” is. It might sound like something from a horror video game, but in the medical world, it has a very different meaning. An iron lung is a large machine designed to help people breathe when their muscles can’t do the job. Breathing involves muscles contracting to fill the lungs with oxygen and expel carbon dioxide. Sometimes, infections can stop these muscles from working, which can be life-threatening.
Iron lungs became crucial during the polio outbreaks in the early 20th century. Polio is a highly infectious disease that can lead to paralysis and even death. It often affected children, causing symptoms like sore throat, fever, and in severe cases, paralysis. During the worst outbreaks, many people needed help breathing, and iron lungs were lifesavers.
Imagine waking up in a large metal cylinder, sealed up to your neck. You’d hear the constant noise of machinery and feel unable to move or speak. Despite the discomfort, the iron lung would help you breathe again. This was the reality for many polio patients who relied on these machines to survive.
In response to the polio epidemic, Philip Drinker and Louis Shaw from Harvard University developed the first widely used iron lung in 1928. It was a large metal device with bellows powered by an electric motor to help patients breathe. Initially, there weren’t enough iron lungs to meet the demand, so hospitals had to improvise with available materials.
Over time, different versions of the iron lung were developed. In 1931, John Emerson designed a more affordable and accessible model, which included features like portholes for monitoring patients and a sliding bed for easier access. Despite legal battles over design rights, the technology was shared to save lives.
Living in an iron lung was challenging. Patients couldn’t use their hands, and nurses had to care for them through small openings. One notable patient, Paul Alexander, contracted polio at age six and spent 18 months in an iron lung. Despite the fear and isolation, he survived, although he was left paralyzed from the neck down. His story highlights the harsh reality of life inside these machines.
While modern technology has largely replaced iron lungs with more advanced ventilators, these machines played a vital role in saving lives during the polio epidemics. They represent a significant chapter in medical history, showcasing human ingenuity in the face of a devastating disease.
Using household materials like cardboard boxes, plastic wrap, and small fans, create a simple model of an iron lung. This activity will help you understand the mechanics of how the iron lung assists in breathing. Present your model to the class and explain how it mimics the function of the real device.
Conduct research on the history of polio, focusing on its impact on society and the development of the iron lung. Prepare a short presentation to share your findings with the class, highlighting key events and figures involved in combating the disease.
Reach out to a polio survivor or a medical professional who can share insights about life in an iron lung or the history of polio. Prepare a list of questions, conduct the interview, and present a summary of the conversation to your classmates.
Write a series of diary entries from the perspective of a patient living inside an iron lung during the polio epidemic. Describe daily life, emotions, and interactions with medical staff. Share your entries with the class to provide a personal view of the historical context.
Participate in a class debate on the topic: “The iron lung was the most significant medical innovation of the 20th century.” Research both sides of the argument and prepare to defend your position, considering the impact of the iron lung compared to other medical advancements.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Unless you’re in the medical field, you might not be familiar with the term ‘iron lung.’ In fact, some of you might hear that phrase and think of an indie horror video game where you play as someone trapped in a submarine. But in the medical world, this has a completely different meaning.
Of course, nobody is placed in an iron lung without a serious reason. It’s not a pleasant experience for patients who require this kind of ventilation treatment. Iron lungs are large, person-sized devices designed to help someone breathe if their muscle control has been lost. The process of filling the lungs with oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide requires the contraction of several muscles throughout the human body. Unfortunately, some infections can prevent these muscles from functioning properly, which can be a dangerous situation.
That’s where an iron lung comes in. While these large breathing machines have become mostly obsolete due to advancements in medical technology, especially ventilators, there was renewed interest in them during the 2020 pandemic. Iron lungs were considered a potentially cheaper alternative to modern ventilators, especially when there were high numbers of patients needing treatment for Covid-19 but fewer ventilators available.
But what was it actually like being inside one of these devices? Just looking at the large, coffin-like structure doesn’t suggest it was a fun experience. However, it’s important to acknowledge that iron lungs saved many lives in the first half of the 20th century. They were developed to help treat symptoms of polio, a highly infectious disease that primarily affects humans. Major polio outbreaks occurred across Europe and the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with many of the most severely affected being children.
Polio often manifests with symptoms like sore throat and fever, and in severe cases, headaches, neck stiffness, and abnormal skin sensations. Perhaps most concerning is that around three-quarters of polio cases are asymptomatic, meaning individuals might not realize they have contracted it until it’s too late. Some cases can lead to paralysis or death, and survivors may experience ongoing muscle weakness due to post-polio syndrome.
Imagine going about your day, perhaps feeling mild symptoms or none at all, only to gradually feel breathless. You might struggle to breathe, and then suddenly find yourself gasping for air as your lung muscles become paralyzed. Fortunately, if you have a loved one nearby, they can rush you to the hospital just as your condition worsens.
Now, picture waking up in a large metal cylinder, sealed up to your neck. You’d hear the sound of machinery, a noisy whooshing, and you wouldn’t be able to move or speak. In some cases, you might not even be able to see due to a hood around your head. But at least you would be able to breathe again. As frightening as this experience sounds, it was the reality for many polio patients who needed iron lungs to assist their breathing.
As polio cases rose, the disease reached epidemic levels. In 1952, there were over 57,000 cases of polio in the United States within a single year. The paralysis caused by polio severely affects the chest muscles responsible for breathing. Without medical assistance, a patient couldn’t breathe normally and would likely die.
Fortunately, Philip Drinker and Louis Shaw, professors at Harvard University, developed a solution: a respirator known as the iron lung. While mechanical devices to assist breathing weren’t new, the scale of the polio epidemic prompted Drinker and Shaw to create a ventilator that allowed patients to breathe more normally. The first widely used version of the device was developed in 1928 and consisted of a large metal casing with bellows to pump air in and out.
The iron lung was airtight, so a person inside would keep their head outside, supported by a rubber seal to prevent air from escaping. The initial version, known as the Drinker Respirator, was powered by an electric motor that operated the bellows, effectively pulling air in and out of the patient’s lungs.
Initially, the adoption of iron lungs in hospitals was limited due to the inability to mass-produce enough devices to meet demand. Many hospitals had to create improvised versions using available materials. One such custom-built iron lung used in Wales consisted of an iron bedframe with a wooden box and hand-cranked leather bellows.
As with any new innovation, various types of iron lungs became available. John Emerson designed an improved version in 1931 that was more affordable and provided better access to patients. Emerson’s design included portholes for monitoring patients without opening the machine and a sliding bed for easier patient placement.
Despite improvements, Drinker claimed Emerson copied his design and sued him. However, Emerson won the lawsuit, as the judge ruled that the technology should be shared to save lives.
In 1937, the Both Respirator was created in response to a polio outbreak in Australia. This version was made of plywood, making it cheaper and lighter for transport. A British philanthropist financed the production of around 1,700 Both iron lungs, which were donated to hospitals.
The iron lung operated on the principle of Negative Pressure Ventilation, pushing air into a patient’s lungs to assist with breathing. The rhythmic sound of air circulation provided reassurance to doctors that patients were breathing.
For patients, the experience of being inside an iron lung could be bewildering and frightening, especially for children. One such patient, Paul Alexander, contracted polio at age six in 1952. He was placed in an iron lung after a tracheotomy saved his life. Waking up in the machine, he was unable to move or speak and was terrified. He found himself surrounded by other children in similar situations.
Life inside an iron lung was challenging for both patients and medical staff. Patients couldn’t use their hands, and nurses had to provide care through portholes, performing tasks like blood transfusions and hygiene care without removing patients from the machine.
Paul spent eighteen months in the iron lung, unable to speak but able to hear the cries of other children. He found the experience boring and communicated with fellow patients through mirrors. Despite the challenges, he survived, although he was left paralyzed from the neck down.
Paul’s story illustrates the reality of living in an iron lung. He eventually lived to the age of seventy-seven and holds a Guinness World Record for the longest time spent in an iron lung. His experience provides a detailed account of what it was like to live inside this medical device.
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Iron Lung – A mechanical respirator that enables a person to breathe when normal muscle control has been lost or the work of breathing exceeds the person’s ability. – During the polio outbreaks of the 20th century, many patients relied on an iron lung to survive.
Polio – A highly infectious viral disease that can cause paralysis and is preventable by vaccination. – The development of the polio vaccine was a significant milestone in medical history.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, often focusing on significant developments and changes. – The history of medicine reveals how technological advancements have improved patient care over the centuries.
Patients – Individuals under medical care or treatment. – Doctors and nurses work tirelessly to ensure the well-being of their patients, especially during outbreaks of infectious diseases.
Breathing – The process of inhaling and exhaling air to facilitate gas exchange with the internal environment, primarily by bringing in oxygen and flushing out carbon dioxide. – Breathing difficulties in polio patients often necessitated the use of mechanical ventilation.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry and medicine. – Advances in medical technology have significantly improved the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Machines – Devices that apply mechanical power and have several parts, each with a definite function and together performing a particular task. – The invention of machines like the iron lung revolutionized the treatment of respiratory illnesses.
Paralysis – The loss of the ability to move in part or most of the body, typically as a result of illness, poison, or injury. – Polio can lead to paralysis, which underscores the importance of vaccination programs.
Infections – The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are not normally present within the body. – Preventing infections is a critical aspect of public health and medical practice.
Medical – Relating to the science or practice of medicine. – Medical advancements have greatly increased life expectancy and improved quality of life.
