WWII Medicine

World War II spurred significant medical advances driven by the urgent need to treat millions of wounded soldiers. Major innovations included the widespread use of antibiotics like penicillin, which drastically reduced infections, and improvements in trauma care, such as blood transfusions and plastic surgery. Advances in aircraft evacuation allowed faster treatment, saving countless lives. Cold storage for organs and blood extended their usefulness. Military medical teams developed rapid triage methods and sterilization techniques to prevent disease. These innovations not only improved wartime survival but also laid the groundwork for modern medicine, benefiting civilian healthcare long after the war ended.