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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Prototype `Mecca' body cooling unit for treating heat stroke. Originally designed to treat pilgims to Mecca. Designed by Weiner and Khogali at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, England, 1978-1981.
Cooling beds such as this were originally designed to treat people affected by heatstroke during pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Hundreds of thousands of people gather during pilgrimages in what can be extremely high temperatures. The patient is sprayed with a mist of cool water and warmer air. This causes rapid evaporation and cooling. Swift treatment of heatstroke is vital to prevent permanent damage, coma or even death.
This model was designed by medics Weiner and Khogali at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Details
- Category:
- Laboratory Medicine
- Object Number:
- 1993-1092
- Materials:
- aluminium (metal), electrical component, fibreglass, paint, plastic (unidentified), steel (metal) and textile
- type:
- body cooling unit
- credit:
- St Pancras Hospital
