Fire escapes are a fairly modern invention. By the 1890s fire escapes began appearing on NYC buildings. Why should buildings have fire escapes? Isn’t fire a hoax? How often do fires happen? Why should we protect people from being burnt alive?
The Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 was rather short lived, or so I thought. Actually every flu death since 1918 is a result of the Spanish flu. So how was the pandemic of 1918 different that the continuing pandemic of today? In the U.S. alone the 1918 influenza epidemic killed an estimated 675,000, around one in five people who contracted the virus. With well over a million deaths today we have far eclipsed the 1918 pandemic.
Buildings of today are built to be thermally insulated which requires air re circulation instead of open ventilation. Back in 1918 they kept windows open. Steam radiators which were positioned under windows were created so that windows could be kept open. At camp Funston in Kansas where the 1918 flu pandemic began, guards were kept on patrol in the evenings to be sure that the troops kept their barracks windows open, no matter how cold it was outside. Some guards got smart and poured cold water over the window hinges which froze the windows open. 100 years ago building were drafty. Bedding and clothing was put out in the sunshine to air out.
Today when it is hot people keep the windows closed to recirculate air conditioned air. When it is cold, they keep the windows closed to re circulate heated air. When you traveled in 1918 a trip to Europe would involve a long ship voyage over the ocean. Today flights take a few hours to help spread the virus from country to country. Back in 1919 an airborne virus like COVID could burn itself out since people were further apart and travel took time. It took WW I to allow the virus to spread around the world thanks to troop movements.
People were deniers and buried their heads in the sand back in 1918 as well as today. But they didn’t have the same opportunities to spread their stupidity on social media. Today the virus is misinformation and humanity is loosing.