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First Aid

The collections of The Museum of the Order of St John, Clerkenwell, London, are rich in historical publications and the material culture of first aid. A centuries-old hospitaler organisation, towards the end of the nineteenth century the Order established St John Ambulance to roll out first aid skills to the general public. Below you can see the evolution of the advice around burn injuries in the St John Ambulance Association First Aid to the Injured Manual, as well as other items in the Museum's collection, which featured in the January 2020 exhibition. Needless to say, 'don't try this at home'! Correct, up-to-date advice can be found via this link to the St John website. 

1896

First Aid to the Injured

©Museum of the Order of St John 2021

Cover of the 1896 version of First Aid to the Injured
1896 version of First aid to the injured - Dr Sylvester's artificial respiration
1896 version of First aid to the injured - Dr Sylvester's artificial respiration part two

Many individuals injured in burns incidents suffered from smoke inhalation an often-overlooked aspect of fire and burns injuries. Such casualties, as occurred in the 1902 Queen Victoria Street Fire (see online exhibition), were treated using the Dr Sylvester method of artificial respiration. This method involves laying the subject on their back and drawing air into the lungs by raising their arms above their head and expelling air by folding the arms across the chest. The method was regarded as hygienic because it avoided mouth-to-mouth contact.

1919

First Aid to the Injured

©Museum of the Order of St John 2021

1919 version of First Aid to the Injured cover
1919 version of First Aid to the injured - instructions on applying lotions and dressings
1919 version of First Aid to the injured - instructions on applying lotions and dressings
1919 version of First Aid to the injured - instructions on applying lotions and dressings

Early first aid manuals often listed complicated instructions detailing the application of lotions and dressings which gradually simplified over the 20th century. This one also includes specific instructions for extinguishing a woman’s dress when it catches fire, which invites readers to imagine both the heroic rescue and an early example of ‘stop, drop, and roll’ advice.

1939

First Aid to the Injured

©Museum of the Order of St John 2021

1939 version of First Aid to the Injured - cover
1939 version of First Aid to the Injured  - entries for burns and scalds
1939 version of First Aid to the Injured  - entries for burns and scalds
1939 version of First Aid to the Injured  - entries for burns and scalds

Entries for burns and scalds in first aid manuals usually begin by outlining the causes of heat injuries. In the two centuries since 1800, covered by the ‘Forged by Fire’ project and exhibition, these were subject to change with developments in the home and workplace, including new chemicals (for example caustic soda) and technologies, such as electricity. Each created its own challenges and required innovations in treatment.

1941

Fragment of Incendiary Bomb

LDOSJ:5522 ©Museum of the Order of St John/Relic Imaging 2019

incendiary bomb fragment
incendiary bomb fragment
incendiary bomb fragment
incendiary bomb fragment
incendiary bomb fragment
incendiary bomb fragment


The Priory Church of the Order of Saint John was swept by fire when it was struck by this incendiary bomb in May 1941. You can read more about the London Blitz of the Second World War in the Forged by Fire online exhibition. The Church was almost destroyed and fundraising activities raised money for a reconstruction project, creating a new church above the 12th-century crypt, which was re-dedicated in 1958. It had already been rebuilt as a parish church in the 1720s after damaged caused by the dissolution of the monasteries during the Reformation, and the Sacheverell Riots in 1710. The Church had only returned to being used solely by the Order in 1931.

c.1950

St John Motor First Aid Outfit

LDOSJ:2019.11 ©Museum of the Order of St John/Relic Imaging 2019

First aid box
first aid box interior

First aid kits like this one included a variety of materials and equipment to treat injuries sustained in road traffic incidents. This included bandages for burns, as well as splints, sterile dressings, iodine and disinfectants.

1958

First Aid Manual

©Museum of the Order of St John 2021

1958 version of First Aid Manual
1958 version of First Aid Manual - section on sunburn
1958 version of First Aid Manual - section on sunburn

First aid manuals often included a section on sunburn. Until the middle of the 20th century, this was usually aimed at people travelling throughout the British colonies across the world. As Britain’s empire declined, and with the introduction of more affordable holidays in the sun, the rationale for this advice shifted significantly.

1965

Manual of Basic First Aid

©Museum of the Order of St John 2021

1965 Manual of Basic First Aid
1965 Manual of Basic First Aid - radiation burns
1965 Manual of Basic First Aid - radiation burns
1965 Manual of Basic First Aid - radiation burns

While definitions and treatment for burns changed little in the first two decades following the Second World War, new causes of burns entered first aid manuals. As a reflection of the changed political circumstances of the Cold War, radiation burns were included in many manuals produced in the second half of the 20th century. 

1966

Manual of Basic First Aid

©Museum of the Order of St John 2021

first aid cover of book
first-aid-14-06-2021-1
first-aid-14-06-2021-2
first-aid-14-06-2021-3

By the 1960s, first aid manuals began to include many more examples of burns injuries affecting children, who were a dominant presence on burn wards. Manuals also emphasised the dangers of flammable materials, which were the focus of new protective legislation in these years. First aid was also simplified in efforts to avoid contaminating burns wounds. Manuals therefore emphasised the need for first aiders to clean their hands, avoid applying lotions, and to cover wounds with a sterile dressing.