East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-07-15

over, naturally they serve to stimulate
interest in Red Cross work in general
In order to prepare the detachments
for the performance of their duties
the American Red Cross has arranged
graduated course of instruction ex-
tending over two or three years. as
the case may be- The first year ten
lectures are given on first aid and ten
on nursing. The second year cook
ing is taught in twelve lessons and
diet cooking in two. Six periods are
also devoted to teaching what II viii
be 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 post graduate course Of
twenty lectures on personal hygiene
and sanitation is given, but this is not
compulsory.
The members of these detachments
are permitted to enroll after passing
the required examination 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,
however, individually much better
prepared to take 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 an auxiliary corps. They will
find an important field of employ
ment in civil functions where great
numbers of people are assembled.
Nowadays 1t is generally regarded as
essential that emergency care should
be provided for the i'll and injured
At such times doctors and nurses will
not be lacking, but Women's Detach-
ments 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 oportunity for first
aid on their part.
In war; every nation except our
own has long recognized the value of
such corps. Throughout Japan dur
ing the Russo-Japanese war special
relief stations which they helped to
organize and participated in were
trains stopped for any length of time.
The honor of organizing the first
Women's First Aid Detachment in the
United States belongs to Washington,
ID. c., where during the winter of
1911 and 1912 this work was begun.
One of the most interesting features
of the International Red Cross Con-
ference held in May, 1912. at Wash
ington, d. c.. was the first aid to the
injured copetition held for different
classes which had been taught first
aid under Red Cros auspices. Min
ers' teams competed among them
selves as well as boy scouts, police
men, firemen, the hospital corps of
the u S. army and a Red Cross field
corps from Chicago, Ill. Interesting
as these contests were they were not
ahead Of one solely for women. Four
teams competed in this, all of which
belonged to the Washington Detach-
ment of the American Red Cross. This
detachment with members in a speci-
ally designed, attractive blue uniform
made a showing In first aid, which
was witness to their intelligence, ear
nestness of purpose and excellent in
struction. One of the daughters of
the secretary of the navy captained a
team, and the captain of another was
the daughter of the assistant secretary
of war. This made it in a measure
service contest with partisanship
running as high as at the army and
navy football game. This, of course,
was only of Importance in showing
what these detachments can be taught
to do in one particular line of their
work. The success in other direc-
tons Of the American Red Cross as
sures that having now taken in hand
the organization OF women's detach-
ments, in the not distant future these
will be found in all parts of the coun-
try playing their large part in the
relief Of suffering humanity.
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