I just finished reading an article about Dianne Odell, a woman who has been confined to an iron lung for the past 57 years. If a person is confined to an iron lung 24 hours a day as she is, how do they manage personal hygiene? Is it possible for the individual to bathe? Scratch itches? I assume there's some sort of catheter for waste, but how does everything else work out?
I'm asking in all seriousness and respect, because I have been wondering about this for a while.
2007-03-08 05:53:22 · 1 answers · asked by Hedera Naturale 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
They aren't used as much today as they were before a vaccine for polio was created. Their primary use then involved respiratory aid for polio victims. Today they are used chiefly when brain damage or a similar malady has caused the breathing function to be curtailed.
When in use the body is encased in the cylinder w only the head protruding. The machine may be opened to perform tasks related to hygiene , but skin irritations & diseases are not uncommon
2007-03-11 14:11:43 · answer #1 · answered by SantaBud 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋