Caroline Hampton facts for kids

Caroline Hampton Halsted (born November 20, 1861 – died November 27, 1922) was an important American nurse. She is famous for being the first person to use medical gloves in the operating room during surgery. This simple change helped make surgeries much safer for patients.

Caroline's Early Life and Nursing Career

Caroline Hampton came from a well-known family in the southern United States. Her uncle, Wade Hampton III, was a famous general during the American Civil War. He also served as a governor and a senator.

Caroline's mother died when she was very young. Her father passed away during the Civil War. She was then raised by her aunts. They hoped she would marry a wealthy plantation owner.

However, Caroline had other plans. She decided to become a nurse, even though her family didn't approve. She trained at Mount Sinai Hospital and then at New York Hospital. She finished her nursing studies in 1888.

In 1889, Caroline became the head surgical nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. She worked closely with a surgeon named William Stewart Halsted.

How Rubber Gloves Changed Surgery

Caroline's hands were very sensitive. She often wore gloves when she was gardening. The strong cleaning solutions used in the hospital caused her hands to become very sore. She developed a painful skin condition called eczema.

At that time, doctors and nurses had to clean their hands very strictly. They used harsh chemicals like potassium permanganate and mercury chloride. This was to prevent germs from spreading.

In the winter of 1889, Caroline told Dr. Halsted she might have to quit her job. Her hands were in too much pain. Dr. Halsted thought Caroline was an excellent nurse. He wanted to find a way for her to keep working.

First, he suggested she try covering her hands with a substance called collodion. But it would harden and crack. Next, Dr. Halsted sent molds of Caroline's hands to the Goodyear Rubber Company. He ordered two pairs of special rubber gloves just for her. These gloves were thin, flexible, and could be used many times. They protected Caroline's hands from the harsh chemicals.

When Dr. Halsted returned from a trip, he was surprised. Other nurses and doctors in the operating room were also wearing rubber gloves! They had seen how well the gloves worked for Caroline. The gloves not only protected the medical staff's hands but also made it easier to hold slippery surgical tools.

Later, a doctor named Joseph Colt Bloodgood discovered something even more amazing. He found that using gloves during surgery greatly reduced infections. Before gloves, about 17% of patients got infections after surgery. With gloves, this dropped to less than 2%! This showed how important gloves were for patient safety.

Caroline's Marriage and Later Life

Caroline Hampton and William Halsted got married on June 4, 1890. The wedding took place in Columbia, South Carolina.

At that time, married women were often expected to stop working. So, Caroline resigned from her nursing job at the hospital. She then managed their home during the winter. In the summer, she ran their farm, High Hampton, in North Carolina.