Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-07-14
School Hygiene

| At the last meeting of the State
Board of Health, DR.. A. G. Young, sec
rotary of the board was instructed to
represent the board at the ninth Con-
gresS of the American school Hygiene
Association which was to be held in
the assembly rooms of the Russell
Sage Foundation, New York City. Re-
| turned. DR.. Young reports that the pa
pers and the demonstrations Of meth
DDS and the discussions were of great
practical value generally.
So many tragedies have occurred in
the schoolhouses Of this country in late
years due to fires which have entrap-
ped the children that in the session
on Safety First for School Children
there was a good representation of
persons who are earnestly working for
the protection of children from the
accidents which may occur to them
while at school or en- route between
home and school.
Frank l. Cooper, an architect of Bos-
ton, presented very forcefully some
things which some Of our Maine ar
chitects Of late years are emphasiz.
ing very strongly in the plans for
'S''oo'iodoCS "IilCI llSy nave Deen
submitting to the State Board Of
Health and the educa tional department
for approval-stairways enclosed in
fire resisting walls; fire doors; and
care not to have the stairways on the
first floor in too close proximity to
the stairways from the basement.
Other points brought out in relation
to safety first were: that a careless
and slovenly school janitor is a fire
risk OF the first order; that in using
films for educative work there are two
KINDS OF celluloid, enc rapidly explo-
sive and inflammable. and the other
not, as the bulletin of the National
Fire Protective Association Associa-
tion has been teaching the public
DR.. Fronczak. health officer of Buffalo,
n. T., told of the lessening of the num-
bers of accidents among school children
which had been effected in his city The
police prohibition Of the use of roller
skates and OF playing ball on the streets
had had a good effect in saving young
people who are so intensely interested in
their runs that they are needless OF ap-
preaching dangers.
One of the rules and regulations of the
State Board Of Health of Maine makes
it the duty Of teachers to note any condi-
tons or symptoms which are suggestive
Of the onset Of an infectious disease and
to cooperate with the local health au-
thorities in the prevention Of commune
cable diseases. In these New York meet
ings the desirability of such cooperative
work was strongly emphasized. The laws
of Pennsylvania make teachers practi-
cally assistant health officers. The New
York state health ONCE issues leaf1et
with the same purpose as that Of Circular
SO OF the Maine board-"Charact OF
the Infectious Diseases"-to help teachers,
parents and non-professional members of
local boards to recognize the early symp-
toms Of these diseases.
In some Of the towns Of New York the
teachers are supplied with clinical Their
mometers and taught how to use them in
the detection of the approach Of infectious
febrile conditions. One teacher thus
equipped found q pupils in her school
with temperatures Of 99.5 degrees or more.
They nearly all came down with an in
fectious disease. but by prompt exclusion
from the schools the further extension Of
the outbreak was prevented.
Other very great helps in safeguarding
the schools from outbreaks Of infectious