Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure

Nurse at the 15th General Hospital in Belgium checks blood pressure of patient

This picture is a great representation of the type of blood pressure equipment any nurse may have encountered both at home and overseas during the war. This device looks much different from the kinds of blood pressure cuffs we are used to today, except for the obvious stethoscope-like attachment used for listening to patient's pulse while taking their blood pressure. This photo was taken at the 15th General Hospital for American troops in Belgium, which opened in September of 1944. The nurse pictured is unidentified and may or may not be American. The hospital staff would often meet with the medical faculty at the local university to discuss future projects and medical activities.

Another useful part of this picture is to show the method used to identify patients throughout the war, by many different nations. The white card tagged onto the headboard rail of the bed in which the patient lies is the document identifying the patient and his condition, and is something that can be seen in other photos of patients during the war.

Unknown Photographer

World War 2 United States Medical Research Centre: "WW2 Military Hospitals, European Theater of Operations:" https://www.med-dept.com/articles/ww2-military-hospitals-european-theater-of-operations/

World War 2 United States Medical Research Centre

Accessed April 27, 2020

Photograph (gif)

English

Still Image

15th General Hospital nurse takes blood pressure of patient

Military Hospitals of WWII, Nurses of WWII, Medical Equipment of WWII

black and white photograph