Evening journal., 1919-02-15
What Red Cross Did to
Stop Influenza Spread

Upon request OF Division fieadquar-
ters reports Of the work done by the
Delaware Chapter Of the American Red
Cross, during the influenza epidemic,
were sent by the Delaware Chapter to
the Observation-Disclosures Division in
Philadelphia. After examining these
reports, Charles Scott, Jr., Division
Manager, In a letter TO Henry p Scott
chairman OF the executive committee
OF the Delaware Chapter, wrote:
Il was not in the least surprised at
the magnitude OF the service rendered
by your chapter, as It Is no more
than characteristic of the way In
which the Delaware Chapter has al
ways met any demands made upon IL.
l congratulate you all most heartily"
A resume OF The reports Of the varl-
Gus bureaus OF the Red. Cross viii give
some slight idea OF the work accom-
plished which merited the copTatula-
tions and hearty approval expressed by
the division manager, 1t is we'll nigh
Impossible to give a complete sto-y Of
the thorough organization Of the Della
ware Chapter, its business and execu-
tive efficiency and a complete account
OF the well-organized, self-sacriflcing
and untiring work Of the members OF
the Rcd Cross. through which the -e-
sponse in this emergency was made
possible. When services given were OF
such a nature that the people serving
gave, as In some instances, no less
than life itself In performing these
services, words a-e, indeed inadequate
and insufficient TO describe them.
such, however, is the feeling Of the
Delaware Chapter Of the Red Cross to-
ward its loyal workers and the many
people, men and women, who served
Loyalty and faithfully. during the in
luenza epidemic last fall.
The work was organized under the
Bureau OF Home Service and Civilian
Relief, Miss Madeline Draper, chair
man. The other bureau heads who CO.
operated when called upon were Wom-
ans Bureau, Mrs. Willard Hall Porter,
chairman. included in which bureau IS
the motor service Of which Mrs. VIII
liam Staniar is chalman; Bureau Of Hy-
giene, Mrs. Joseph Bancroft, chairman
which bureau was closely affiliated
with that OF the Bureau Of Nursing
service, OF which Miss Lockwood Is
chairman and Miss E. B. Hayes Is sec
retary; and the Canteen Bureau, Mrs,
Henderson Weir, chairman.
The report Of Miss Draper descrlb-
ing the service rendered during the in
iluenza epidemic by the Home Service
and Civilian Relief Bureau, shows
thorough organization and a successful
canvass in securing names and address,
es OF the homes where assistance was
needed, and further in securing work
ers TO respond TO the many calls made
necessary by illness and death in fam
ilies where conditions were such saat
they could not care for themselves.
Two hundred and ninety-six families
were visited because OF death; ninety
seven families were visited because of
Illness, and the total number visited
was three hundred and ninety-three,
representing more than one thousand
cases OF Influenza, resulting in two
hundred and ninety-six deaths. Ser
vices rendered other than financial, one
hundred and nineteen cases. Temporary
homes for children, seventeen cases ;
permanent homes for children, mir
teen cases, adjusting business matters,
insurance, sick benefits, sending for
relatives, etc., elghty-nine cases.
"Vislting in the homes where there
was influenza brought us in contact
with many problems aside from actual
Illness" Miss Diapers report goes on
to say. "0ne a young couple and
their baby, recently arrived from Vir-