Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-08
RELIEF
MEASURES AND METHODS
TIME OF DISASTER
BY
Ernest p, Bjcknell

National Director, American Red Cross
55s. General Scope Of Red Cross
Work-The American Red Cross may
he United States. 1t is so recognized
oy the federal government. If the
United States becomes involved in war,
wounded soldiers those sympathetic
illustrations and such needed supplies
eminent itself. But in it's recognition
IF the Red Cross as an agency for the
oppression of human sympathy in con-
charged the Red Cross with highly i'm
portant duties in the relief and pre-
ies ecb Oh bosn h ca1seq oy caa h
fire. flood, explosion, shipwreck. storm.
earthquake. famine. epidemic or other
agencies. of destruction. War. fortu-
nately. is rare: calamitieS arc many.
Therefore, it comes to pass that the
tasks which fall most commonly upon
the American Red Cross arc thoae which
caused by calamities.
Prevention, which is: likewise charge
upon the Red Cross. is a duty less OBJ
the formation and conduct of system
of instruction in first aid. system of
rural nursing. method of financing
through the sale of Christmas Seals,
and by means of local activities car
ried on by chapters. it is intended 20
comply, so far as practicable. with this
requirement. AS the resources of The
Red Cross expand. its elastic organiza-
ton will enable it to enlarge its activi-
ties and take advantage of such oppor
tunities for prevention as from time to
$50. RED Cross Relief Work in Ca
lamities-However it is with the func-
tion of the Red Cross as an agency for
relief in calamities that the discussion
of the, moment deals It may be pointed
out that , In this field the Red CT; SIS
the government. its. work is subject to
government regulation, it's financial ac-
counts are audited BY the War Depart
to Congress. But from the government
the Red Cross receives no financial sup
port. The maintenance of its organiza-
ton in a. state of preparedness for in.
slant and effective action every hour of
every day is essential, but the. heavy
cost of such maintenance must be me-
through the individual generosity of the
American people. The great sums of
money required for the works of relief
which the Red Cross conducts. or in
public appropriations but from the gifts
of men and Women moved by sympathy
and with belief in the wisdom and
integrity of the Red Cross In the seven
years beginning with 1906. the people
of the United states have entrusted to
the Red Cross for expenditure in works
of relief at hcme and abroad and in tho
ization approximately $500 600
The methods which the Red CT oss fell
aws in the conduct of it's work of re-
ief are the result of accumulated ex-
perionce. They must be elastic because
every calamity offers new problems and
variations of olo ones. Certain tunda-
mental quest ions always arise and must
be solved according to well established
rules of action. but in addition n swarm
of other questions is. inevitable which
conditions.
In it's relitt operations the Red Cross
is always highly cooperative: 1T does
not insist upon taking full and sole con-
troll of relief situation. but welcomes
the cooperative efforts. of all helpful or
participate in relief activities. The
reasons for this cooperative attitude by
the Red Cross are ample.
The help of many persons is usually
required following large disaster, par
ticularly in the first days. during what
may be called the emergency period;
when food. shelter. clothing and medical
attention may be imperatively and I'M
mediately needed by a large number of
sufferers. In this period the knowledge
which local volunteers have OF the
names. connections. resources and ram
ano essential. Even were the Red cross
able to command a trained stat sum
Gent to meet all relief demands prompt
ly. it would seek and welcome the rep
OF volunteers. In short, the Red cross
does not desire to become an OUTSIDE
stricken community, but prefers to be-
ONE simply an integral part or the or
Eanized effort of the community TO re.
establish itself upon normal OASIS OIL
existence.