St. John Ambulance splints

	South Australian Medical Heritage Society Inc Website for the Virtual Museum
Home Coming meetings Past meetings About the Society Galleries of the Virtual Museum Main Galleries Medicine Surgery Anaesthesia X-rays Hospitals,other organisations Individuals of note Small Galleries Dentistry Nursing Ethnic medicine - Aboriginal - Chinese - Mediterran	St. John Ambulance splints The St. John Ambulance Museum in Arthur St. Unley S.A. has an unique collection of first aid splints dating to the 19 th. century. The numerous examples dating from the 18^th century to recent times (1960) were kindly provided to be photographed by Dr. Brian Fotheringham, the curator of the St. John’s Ambulance Museum . The first photographs show a wooden box containing numerous splints used in the 19 th. century (1888) to immobilise traumatised limbs: They are made of metal with perforations to provide air and drainage access, and there are sizes to accommodate various ages. The “Allen Key” like pieces were used to provide angulation. The splints are labelled “radial, tibial maxillary, and humeral. Their size can be judged by comparison with the box which is 15.5 inches long. Wooden box set of metal limb and maxillary splints © 1888 Radius splints Finger splints Patella splints Tibia & fibula splints Maxillary splints Adjustable Splints with “Allan” keys These are probably of similar age, possibly during W.W.1 The round holes fit the malleoli and the calico straps used to fasten them to the limb are held by leather straps. Again the object was to stabilise the fractures. The splints are for the forearm and lower limbs. Some have metal joints to allow joint movement. The St. John logo is 5.5 inches wide. St. John’s Ambulance flat wood limb splints Wood splints with calico straps. Note holes for malleoli Hinged wooden splints Wrist & hand splints Leg & foot splint Thomas splint The following, are 2 types of portable Thomas Splint, The older model is enclosed in a wooden box, and has a wheel and ratchet to provide traction. The later model is stored in a green plastic container. Both can be adjusted for length. Box containing components for assembly of an adjustable Thomas splint Thomas splint partially assembled More modern portable Thomas splint This leg splint has a component to prevent foot drop, and a space to avoid pressure on the heel. An extendable splint for immobilisation of the leg during transport Calico & Wooden Slats Splint To follow are 2 views of a splint used to immobilise the leg. The wide belt fits around the waist while the lower square portion is wrapped around the lower limb to immobilise it. Calico & slat splint for leg fractures Calico & Slat Splint - Inside View Pneumatic Splints These were used for fractured limb immobilisation, and as the label on the container implies were carried by motor-cycle patrols. It is not clear as to how the patient was transferred to hospital. “Air Splints” container, Label reads “ Adelaide (Motor Cycle) Ambulance Division” Air splints. Note inflation tubes and stoppers. Cervical Collars These collars have 3 creases marked by arrows, which when folded can produce three different widths to fit the patient. Cervical Collars Note arrows showing folds for adjustment Malleable Wire (Zimmer) Splints Malleable adjustable wire splints used for temporary immobilisation of fractures Special Whole Body Rescue Stretcher A special stretcher with ropes, straps and laths for immobilising a badly injured patient prior to rescue from a difficult or dangerous situation . Archival press photograph of a rescue involving the above stretcher . -o0o-

South Australian Medical Heritage Society Inc

Website for the Virtual Museum

Home
Coming meetings
Past meetings
About the Society

Galleries of the Virtual Museum

Main Galleries

Medicine
Surgery
Anaesthesia
X-rays
Hospitals,other organisations
Individuals of note

Small Galleries

Dentistry
Nursing

Ethnic medicine
     - Aboriginal
     - Chinese
     - Mediterran

St. John Ambulance splints

The St. John Ambulance Museum in Arthur St. Unley S.A. has an unique collection of first aid splints dating to the 19 th. century. The numerous examples dating from the 18^th century to recent times (1960) were kindly provided to be photographed by Dr. Brian Fotheringham, the curator of the St. John’s Ambulance Museum .

The first photographs show a wooden box containing numerous splints used in the 19 th. century (1888) to immobilise traumatised limbs: They are made of metal with perforations to provide air and drainage access, and there are sizes to accommodate various ages. The “Allen Key” like pieces were used to provide angulation. The splints are labelled “radial, tibial maxillary, and humeral. Their size can be judged by comparison with the box which is 15.5 inches long.

Wooden box set of metal limb and maxillary splints © 1888

Radius splints

Finger splints

Patella splints

Tibia & fibula splints

Maxillary splints

Adjustable Splints with “Allan” keys

These are probably of similar age, possibly during W.W.1 The round holes fit the malleoli and the calico straps used to fasten them to the limb are held by leather straps. Again the object was to stabilise the fractures. The splints are for the forearm and lower limbs. Some have metal joints to allow joint movement. The St. John logo is 5.5 inches wide.

St. John’s Ambulance flat wood limb splints

Wood splints with calico straps. Note holes for malleoli

Hinged wooden splints

Wrist & hand splints

Leg & foot splint

Thomas splint

The following, are 2 types of portable Thomas Splint, The older model is enclosed in a wooden box, and has a wheel and ratchet to provide traction. The later model is stored in a green plastic container. Both can be adjusted for length.

Box containing components for assembly of an adjustable Thomas splint

Thomas splint partially assembled

More modern portable Thomas splint

This leg splint has a component to prevent foot drop, and a space to avoid pressure on the heel.

An extendable splint for immobilisation of the leg during transport

Calico & Wooden Slats Splint

To follow are 2 views of a splint used to immobilise the leg. The wide belt fits around the waist while the lower square portion is wrapped around the lower limb to immobilise it.

Calico & slat splint for leg fractures

Calico & Slat Splint
- Inside View

Pneumatic Splints

These were used for fractured limb immobilisation, and as the label on the container implies were carried by motor-cycle patrols. It is not clear as to how the patient was transferred to hospital.

“Air Splints” container, Label reads “ Adelaide (Motor Cycle) Ambulance Division”

Air splints. Note inflation tubes and stoppers.

Cervical Collars

These collars have 3 creases marked by arrows, which when folded can produce three different widths to fit the patient.

Cervical Collars

Note arrows showing folds for adjustment

Malleable Wire (Zimmer) Splints

Malleable adjustable wire splints used for temporary immobilisation of fractures

Special Whole Body Rescue Stretcher

A special stretcher with ropes, straps and laths for immobilising a badly injured patient prior to rescue from a difficult or dangerous situation

.

Archival press photograph of a rescue involving the above stretcher

.

-o0o-