Abbie Sweetwine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Abbie Sweetwine
Drawing of Abbie Sweetwine treating injured during the 1952 Harrow and Wealdstone rail crash
Born	May 28, 1921
Died	May 7, 2009
Burial place	Arlington National Cemetery
Employer	United States Air Force

Abbie Sweetwine (born May 28, 1921 – died May 7, 2009) was a brave American nurse. She is famous for her amazing work during a terrible train crash in England. A newspaper called her "The Angel of Platform 6" because of her quick thinking and kindness.

Becoming a Nurse

Abbie L. Sweetwine grew up in Cocoa, Florida. She had two sisters, Willie Ruth and Dorothy. Dorothy later became a newspaper editor.

Abbie studied nursing at Brewster Hospital in Jacksonville. This was the first hospital for Black people in the city. She graduated in 1942 and became a registered nurse.

Helping Others: Abbie's Career

Abbie Sweetwine started her career serving in the army. She worked in several hospitals across the United States.

The Harrow & Wealdstone Train Crash

Abbie Sweetwine is best known for her actions during the Harrow & Wealdstone rail crash. This happened on October 8, 1952, in England. Three trains crashed near London, causing many injuries.

Members of the United States Air Force (USAF) were on one of the trains. They quickly called their nearby hospital. An emergency team from the Air Force Hospital arrived. This team included seven doctors and one nurse: Abbie Sweetwine. They were all trained in battlefield medicine.

Setting Up a Triage Station

Nurse Sweetwine and her team quickly set up a special area. This area was called a triage station. Here, they sorted and treated the injured people. They decided who needed help first based on how badly they were hurt.

Abbie helped people who were not badly hurt or were in shock. She gave them cigarettes and hot tea to calm them down. For those with serious injuries, she gave them blood plasma. This helped to save many lives.

The Lipstick 'X'

Abbie used her own lipstick to mark the treated patients. She drew a big 'X' on their foreheads. This simple mark told ambulance crews that the person had already received help. It also helped hospitals know what kind of care each patient needed.

"The Angel of Platform Six"

The Daily Mirror newspaper gave Abbie Sweetwine a special nickname. They called her "the Angel of Platform Six". This was because of her heroic actions on the train platform.

In January 1953, Abbie was invited to a fancy lunch in London. She received a special cigarette case with her name on it. Her work, and that of the USAF team, helped inspire new ideas. It led to the development of paramedics in Britain. Paramedics are medical professionals who give emergency care outside of a hospital.

Abbie Sweetwine retired from the United States Air Force in 1969. By then, she was a major. She moved back to Florida and lived with her sisters for over thirty years.

Abbie Sweetwine passed away at age 87. She was buried at the Arlington National Cemetery.

Images for kids

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  Abbie Sweetwine helping injured people after the train crash.