Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-07-09
women IN
The RED CROSS
First Aid DetaChmeBtS TO
Soon be Organized
For Them
CzariUa is at Head OF This
Movement in
Russia
Special to The Tribune

Special to The Tribune
IA IINGTON, July Slack OF
preparation for and a clear definition
OF the duties OF voluntary aid work.
ers have frequently severely initiated
against their success. The American
Red Cross has lately settled on a plan
which will correct this condition in
at least one important respect. This
has been done by the organization OF
the so-called Women's First Aid De-
tachments. New as these detach-
ments are to this country they are by
no means new in certain other pa
tons where universally they have had
the countenance and support OF the
authority and the most dis
tinguished people. To take only one
example: the Czarina is at the head
of this movement in Russia.
The purpose of these d~etachments
with us, which while similar Is not
identical with that in other countries,
is to afford women instruction in first
aid, home nursing, cooking and diet
cooking, the preparation OF rooms,
buildings, ETC., for the reception OF
the i'll and injured, with, in some In
stances, postgraduate courses in per-
sonal hygiene and sanitation. More.
over, naturally they serve to stimu
late interest in Red Cross work in
general. In order to prepare the de,
tachments for the performance OF
their duties the American Red Cross
has arranged a graduated course OF
instruction extending owe two or
three years, as the case may be. The
first year ten lectures are given on
first aid and ten on nursing. The sec.
ond year cooking is taught in twelve
lessons and diet cooking In two. Six
periods are also devoted to teaching
what 1t will be necessary to provide
to take are 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 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 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,
however, individually much hetter pre-
pared to take emergency care OF the
family and others in case of illness
or injury and the detachments as such
have a clear field of their W as an
auxiliary corps. They will find an
important field Of employment in civil
functions where great numbers OF
people are assembled. Nowadays it
is generally regarded as essential
that emergency care should be pro-
vided for the Ill and injured. AT such
times doctors and nurses will not be
lacking, but Women's Detachments
are required to get together the ne
cessary materials and to take care
OF the housekeeping end OF these re-
lief stations. Moreover, there Is not
infrequently an opportunity for first
aid on their part.
In war, every nation except our own
mas long recognized the value of such
corps. Throughout Japan during the
Russo-Japanese war special relief sta
lions which they helped to organize
and participated in were found at ev-
cry point where railroad trains stoop-
ed for any length Of time.
The honor Of organizing the hrst
WOmen's First Aid Detachment in the
United States belongs to Washington,
d. c., where during the winter OF 1911
and 1912 this work was begun. One
Of the most interesting features OF
the international Red Cross Confer
ence held in May, 1912, at Washing
ton, d. c., was a first aid to the In
jured competition held for different
classes which had been taught first
aid under Red Cross auspices. Min
ers teams competed among them
selves as we'll as Boy Scouts, police
men, firemen, the Hospital Corps OF
the u. S Army and a Red Cross Field
Corps from Chicago, III. Interesting
as these contests were they were not
ahead of one solely for women. Four
teams competed with this, all of which
belonged to the Washington Detach-
ment of the American Red Cross.
This detachment, with members in a
specially designed, attractive, blue
uniform, made a showing in first aid.
which was witness to their intelH-
gence, earnestness of purpose and ex-
cellent instruction. One Of the
of the Secretary of the Ma
Wv captained a team, and the captain
Of another was the daughter Of the
Assistant Secretary Of War. This
made it in a measure a service con-
test with ~partisanship running as high
az at the Army and Navy football
game. This, OF course, was only Of
Importance in showing what these de-
car be taught to do in one
particular line Of their work. The