Iron Lung, Polio, March of Dimes, C16, Drew Pearson Films, Washington Merry-Go-Round.

Duration: 12:31 1659 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

The video features Drew Pearson, a journalist and chairman of the Iron Lung Committee at Providence Hospital in Washington, who decides to experience life inside an iron lung firsthand to report on the reality for polio patients. Upon being lowered into the machine, Pearson immediately feels the intense pressure required to keep air from escaping, noting that while he can move his arms and legs, his body feels separated from his head. He struggles with the mechanical rhythm of breathing, finding it difficult to synchronize his speech with the machine's operation, which prevents him from broadcasting normally. The experience is described as isolating, leaving him in a world where he can only see a small mirror, reinforcing the physical and psychological separation between the patient's mind and their paralyzed body. Pearson then meets Betty Grant, a young and attractive polio patient who has been in an iron lung since August. She explains that she is currently progressing slowly, sleeping in the machine at night while using a rocking bed and a chest respirator during the day to aid her recovery. Despite her confinement, Betty shares moments of joy, such as being allowed to see her two-year-old daughter, Cathy, over the weekend, which she calls the bright spot of her week. She expresses deep gratitude toward the National Polio Foundation for their financial support, emphasizing that hospital care and equipment are incredibly expensive and that donations from ordinary people make a significant difference in keeping patients alive and hopeful. The narrative concludes by shifting focus from Pearson's temporary discomfort to Betty's long-term struggle and eventual recovery, highlighting the critical role of the March of Dimes campaign. The video underscores that despite the availability of the Salk polio vaccine, funded largely by the foundation's efforts, the disease has not been completely eradicated, and many individuals still rely on iron lungs for survival. Pearson urges viewers to remember the strange but vital sound of the machine, which represents the breath of new life for thousands, and to continue supporting the fight against polio through donations. The final message is a call to action for the American people to join together in this ongoing battle, ensuring that every community has access to necessary emergency equipment until the disease is fully defeated.

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Ladies and gentlemen, you are looking at the business end of an iron lung. And that sound that you hear is the air being forced into the lungs so that the patient can breathe. And if anyone should pull the plug, stopping that air, the patient would die within a minute. I think perhaps I should tell you why I am here in Providence Hospital in Washington in the polio unit. Last spring I did some special reporting on that wonderful discovery, the Salk polio vaccine. And I discovered what I think most people don't know, that the Polio Foundation borrowed up $9 to pay for that vaccine so that the children of America could have it without waiting one more summer. Well, that investment, as you know, paid off. And the children of America were saved countless cases. Well, some people thought that this year we wouldn't have to have a March of Dimes drive, but in my opinion it's all the more necessary. Not only to pay back that $9 but to help thousands of cases, people who contracted polio long before. So, I'm delighted to do my small part in the March of Dimes drive. And as chairman of the iron lung committee, it occurred to me that perhaps I should do what any ordinary newspaper man usually does, get the facts by reporting from inside an iron lung. So, if you'll excuse me for a minute until I can put on my pajamas and the proper apparel, I'm going to report to you what it's like to be inside an iron lung. Now, with the help of these young ladies, I'm going to go inside this iron lung just as nearly as possible like an ordinary patient and I'll try to report to you what it's like inside. >> All right, Mr. Pearson. Watch your hands. Step down a bit. That's good. Mr. Pearson, while you're pushing through, watch your nose. >> All right, here we are. I know a lot of people would like to get me in a position like this. >> I can't breathe. Please, huh? >> It's a little little tight. >> It has to be tight so the pressure will stay in. >> I see. Well, you go ahead. You're the bosses. I'll trust you. >> All right, now we're pushing you through. Watch your elbows. Now, take a breath. Let it out. How's it feel? >> It's pretty good. >> Going too fast? >> No. >> Would you like more pressure, do you think? >> A little low. I don't think so. I think it's all right. It's a little hard to breathe, but I I I'm I'm all right. I confess that I don't know how exactly how to describe this. You have to synchronize your I'm because you of course the lung is helping you to breathe but I'm not quite I'm not quite used to I don't exactly when to breathe and when to when to talk. I don't believe I could really give a broadcast from this lung or a telecast. At least at not the rate of speed I'm supposed to talk. You also You also feel as if you were sort of away away in a world all your own with nothing to look at except this little mirror and nothing else in the world except that. You of course you you can't uh your body feels sort of separated from the from your head and uh you can move with your your arms and I can move my feet and arms I suppose of course the the average patient can't because that's why he's in the lung because he's paralyzed. I I must say that I I'm I'm glad I don't have polio. I suppose this uh neck piece has to be tight in order to keep the air out. >> That's that's to keep the pressure in. >> Oh, I see. >> May I ask you a question? On the way over to >> know whether I can answer it but >> On the way over to the hospital today, what were your thoughts on getting into an iron lung? >> Well, what do you know I thought maybe I'd get a little sleep for a change. >> I think you found it quite different, didn't you? >> Well, it's it is a little different and I've been in a lot of hot I've been in a lot of hot tight spots in Oregon but I think this is about the tightest. Uh Um Can I have a little water? >> Yes, sir. Right away. >> What do you do when you shave in the morning? >> Well, you leave that to the nurses or perhaps maybe an orderly. But, you you see we do all the work. You don't do any. >> Do uh do do uh You know, my wife would be grateful for one thing. She never She never She never likes it when I tweak my mustache and now I can't I can't tweak it. Um but but could you could you could you would you mind scratching the that uh place in my >> Which side? Your right side? >> Right side of my That's the side you can find. You were in the iron lung >> Yes, I have. I did get in tried out once. Like yourself, I was curious and I wanted to find out just how it felt. >> Are you from Washington? >> Yes, sir. I am. In fact, I was born right here in this hospital on this floor. >> ward. I saw I saw the babies next door. >> That's the place. >> Um By the way, what time is it? >> Uh I have about uh quarter to 10. Uh Mr. Pearson, we have a very nice young attractive polio patient in the next room. Would you like to meet her? Name's Betty Grant. She's been here in an iron lung since August. >> I'd I'd I'd I'd love to I'd love to meet her. Could could could you could you bring her bring her in? >> All right. I'll bring her in while Miss Green brushes you up your hair a little bit. >> Yeah. >> She's a very attractive young lady. You have to make a good impression. Looks like they're bringing Betty in now. Mr. Pearson, this is Mrs. Grant. This is Betty Grant. Betty, do you know Mr. Pearson? >> It's very nice of you to come in here. >> I've always wanted to meet you. I read your column in the post. But I never thought we'd meet under these circumstances. >> I know it's just a little bit peculiar, I'll admit. Have you been Excuse me, I haven't quite learned how to breathe. I see that you have. But have you been in the lung for some time? >> I've been in since the 13th of August. >> How long you been in the lung? >> Well, I think I'm progressing it slow but sure. Uh Right now, I only sleep in the lung. At night, I spend the better part of my day on the rocking bed and I use a Monaghan chest respirator also. >> Well, that's that's wonderful. You You you were almost cured. >> Yes, it's quite a change. >> Don't tell me, are you Did you have any children? >> Yes, Mr. Pearson, I have one. I have one little girl. Her name is Cathy and she's 2 years old. >> Can she come to see you in the hospital? >> Oh, yes, she can. The sister gives granted special permission to bring her in over the weekend. >> And that must be wonderful for you. >> Oh, yes, it's the bright spot of the week. >> Tell me, are you a patient of the National Polio Found- Foundation? >> Yes, I am and they're wonderful people. I don't know what I would have done without them. As you know, it's quite expensive now to be in a hospital and all this equipment is quite costly, but I think if more people realized the wonderful work that they do and just how far one of their dimes will go. They help us. >> I'm awfully glad to hear you say that and I I hope an awful lot of people will remember that during the March of Dimes. You know, I I want to make a prediction. The rate you're going, I'm going to predict that you'll be out of this iron lung and back with your little girl before very long. And that's one that I I want to make. >> With God's help, I will live again. >> And I certainly hope that's going to be a prediction that'll be more than 83% accurate. I'm going to be back in a few minutes with some more some more predictions. Now, ladies and gentlemen, how I felt inside that iron lung is not important. But how Mrs. Betty Grant felt is all important. The fact that she's getting well, thanks to the Polio Foundation and an iron lung. So, remember that when you give to the March of Dimes. Remember that polio isn't licked yet and that these iron lungs are terribly expensive and that every community needs one, needs one badly in emergency. And also remember that sound. It's a strange sound, but it's breath. Breath of a new life to thousands of people. >> March of Dimes. March of Dimes. >> The fight against polio is our fight. Over the years, we, the American people, have joined together to carry on that fight through the March of Dimes. We have a powerful new weapon now, a vaccine. With widespread use, that vaccine will bring polio under control. But please remember that polio is not beaten yet. So give. Give to your March of Dimes.