Water Chlorination and 12 Other Lifesaving Innovations That Rarely Get Credit

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Fire Sprinkler Systems

Until 1874, when Henry Parmelee installed the nation's first automatic sprinkler system in the piano factory he owned in New Haven, Conn., fire control systems were little more than collections of perforated pipes. In contrast, Parmelee's sprinkler heads had valves that, when exposed to high temperatures, opened automatically and released water. Until the 1940s, however, such sophisticated systems were used only in commercial buildings. Now, they are mandatory in most newly built hospitals, schools, hotels, and other public structures. And for good reason: The presence of a sprinkler reduces the chances that a fire will be deadly by one half to three fourths and cuts the average property loss by one half to two thirds, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Blood Transfusions

Transfusions were an extremely risky affair until, in 1901, the Austrian-American Karl Landsteiner realized that some people have incompatible blood types. His insight dramatically improved transfusions, which have become a workhorse of modern medicine. Organ transplants, for example, require about 40 units of blood, heart surgery requires six, bone marrow transplants require 20, and treatment for auto accident victims about 50. Every two seconds somebody needs blood, according to the American Red Cross. Still, fewer than 10 percent of people donate each year (partly because only 38 percent of the population is eligible). This site will help you find a nearby blood bank where you can donate.

Drinking Water Infrastructure

Chlorination isn't the only innovation that keeps our tap water clean. An expansive network of reservoirs, pipes, and sanitation facilities is also required to get the job done. However, experts say that much of that infrastructure is ailing from old age and will require a massive influx of funds to the tune of about $500 billion to avert a crisis. (This recent documentary has more on the water infrastructure crisis.) Consumers, meantime, should brace themselves for the fact that water rates may well double in the next few decades, says Steve Albee of the Environmental Protection Agency. For more, read this U.S. News story on our water infrastructure woes.

Hypodermic Needles

The hollow needle of a hypodermic syringe plays a critical role in a variety of medical procedures, including drawing blood for diagnostic tests and injecting medications. Millions of people with diabetes, for example, rely on hypodermic needles to get insulin into their body on a daily basis. Still, despite their ability to save lives, many people fear them. Studies have found that as much as 10 percent of the population has what psychiatrists call belonephobia, or intense fear of needles and injections.

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