Thread by @Orla_Hegarty

[Thread] #COVID19
Break the Chain at the
Weakest Link
~Open the Windows~

What can we learn about ventilation & disease control from 1920 nursing manual? 1/

‘a patient in a dark, poorly ventilated room has a harder battle to fight...sunshine & fresh air are nature’s best remedies... the model sick room is a light, quiet, airy, easily heated room on south or east side of the house’ 2/

‘a current of fresh air should be ventilating in sick room day & night... if a fresh supply of oxygen is not admitted to the room at frequent intervals, the patient is force to rebreathe impure air.. heat to make possible to have window open a little even in coldest weather’ 3/

‘any person with influenza shall be confined to a large well-ventilated room of proper temperature, remote from occupants... the attendant should wear a face mask of gauze or other approved material.. the premises shall not be placarded unless the family refuse to comply’ 4/

‘[influenza] room should be well ventilated, free from dust & abundantly supplied with sunlight.. ample supply of air shall be provided into the sick room. Every additional person in the room deprives the patient of part of their air supply, especially if the room is small’ /5

‘nurses should bear in mind manner of transmitting the disease (flu).. infection takes place through respiratory tract from droplets & germs expelled by the patient.. wear mask made with 4-6 layers of gauze.. change every 3-4 hours, with supply of fresh, clean masks on hand’ 6/

source: Lectures on Home Nursing, Chicago Training School for Home & Public Health Nursing 1920
(Influenza Encyclopaedia quod.lib.umich.edu/f/flu/0180flu.…) 7/