Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-08-16
TEACH FIRST AID.
New Branch Of Red Cross Or
oanized In Washington.
WIN Instruct Women In the Care q
injured In Emergencies and Also
In Sanitation and Nursing
Of the Sick.

tngtOu.-Lack OF preparation
for the duties Of voluntary aid work
ers has given rise to the organization
of q new branch Of the American Red
Cross society. which Is to be known
as the Woman's First Aid detachment.
The first detachment yet formed be-
longs to Washington, D. c.. where dur.
ing the last winter the new work was
begun. The movement Is rapidly
branching out to other cities through
out the country.
The detachment idea in the Red
Cross work, while new in this coun-
try, has received the support OF vari-
GUS foreign countries. In Russia the
movement is headed by the czarina.
The purpose of the American de-
tachments, while similar. Is not iden-
teal with those in other countries.
The Idea which has been carried out
by the detachment already formed IN
Washington Is to afford women In.
struction in first aid. nursing. cooking
and diet cooking. the preparation OF
rooms for the sick and injured and
courses in personal hygiene and SAM
tation
In order to prepare the detachments
for the performance Of their duties
the American Red Cross has arranged
a graduate course Of instruction ex-
tending over period of two or three
years. The first year ten lectures are
given on first aid and ten on nursing.
The second year cooking is taught In
twelve lessons and diet cooking in
two. Six periods are also devoted to
teaching what Ia necessary to provide
to take care of the sick or hurt in an
emergency, with proper arrangements
for such articles In any place set aside
for the purpose. A postgraduate
course Of twenty lectures; is given on
personal hygiene and sanitation, but
this Is not compulsory.
An announcement Of the American
Red Cross says:
The members Of these detachments
are permitted to enroll after passing
the required examinations at the end
Of the first year. 1t must be distinct
ly understood that these women are
In no sense Red Cross nurses. From
the instruction received they are, how
ever. individually much better pre-
pared to take the emergency care Of
the family and others in case OF i'll
ness or injury and the detachments as
such have clear field OF their own
as in auxiliary corps.
"They will find an important field
of employment in civil functions when
great numbers of people are assem-
bled. Nowadays 1t is generally regard
ed as essential that emergency care
should be provided for the Ill and In
5ured. At such times doctors and
nurses will not be lacking, but wom-
ems detachments are required to get
together the necessary materials and
to take care Of the housekeeping end
Of these relief stations. Moreover,
there is not infrequently an opportu-
nifty for first aid on their part.
In war every nation except our
own has long recognized the value Of
such corps. Throughout Japan during
the Russo-Japanese war special relief
stations which they helped to organ
lie and participated in were found at
every point where railroad trains
stopped for any length Of time.
"The success in other directions of
the American Red Cross assures that,
having now taken in hand the organ
fzation Of women's detachments, in
the not distant future these will be
found in all parts Of the country play
Ing their large part in the relief of
suffering humanity"