Polioepidemien i København

SC 8.1/10 

Year: 1952
Country: Denmark
Section: documentary
Tags: boy, girl, medical check
Description: In 1952, the largest polio epidemic hit Denmark, with Copenhagen in particular being particularly hard hit. Polio mostly affected children and young people, and most were admitted to Blegdamshospitalet in Copenhagen, which treated around 3,000 patients with an average age of 11 years between 24 July and 31 December 1952. 866 patients had paralysis of the arms or legs, and 316 had paralysis of the respiratory muscles and were therefore unable to breathe on their own. Some of them were fitted with an 'iron lung' - what we today call a respirator. Others had a tracheotomy - a hole in the throat leading directly into the windpipe. The film shows a number of technical aids for respiration and the procedure itself is demonstrated.
During the polio epidemic in 1952, Blegdamshospitalet became world-famous for introducing ventilator treatment to combat respiratory paralysis.
Video Added: 21.11.2025