Evening journal., 1919-10-02
RED CROSS NOW
IN HEALTH FIGHT
Society Must Combat In
Peace Time Deaths Direc-
tor Scott Says
THIRD ROLL CALL
2 NOVEMBER Pill

the Red Cross must combat the disaster
OF peace, The thousands OF deaths from
preventable disease in this country"
said Division Manager Charles scott,
Ir.. OF the pennsy nsylyanla-Dclaware Di-
vision, in outlining The health peace
program OF the Red Cross at the. public
all-day Red Cross conference In the
Hotel DUPONT, which opened at g.iJ
o'clock today. The conference was
one of the largest and most enthusi-
astic gatherings ever held in Whining
ton. The delegates and visitors crowd
ed the hotel lobby and The mezzanine
galleries.
1T is like preaching 10 a preacher
to talk TO the Delaware Chapter about
our public health program. because
your chapter has already put part Of
the program into effect. Your record
Is the envy Of every chapter in this
country, Your equipment has been
adopted as the standard by the National
Red Cross Society" continued Mr..
Scott. lie said further:
The work done by The Red Cross
during The war. great as IL was. is in
significant besides the work that 10
may do in peace times. such disasters
as the influenza epidemic, which In a
few weeks last year caused more than
five times The deaths 90 Americans
caused by a year and a half OF war,
may become permanent unless there Is
instruction In every community in the
prevention and care OF disease.
The Red Gross IS not seeking eX-
cuses to perpetuate its organization.
The Red Cross has complete organiza-
tion, developed during the war. II
has center In every community.
There is a definite use for such an or
ganization now Governmental agen-
cies cannot do this work until the in
dividuals OF every community have
been aroused 10 the need and educated
in the principles Of health. There are
not many communities which have
other agencies than the Red Cross pre-
pared 10 do this work. Many communi-
ties are without trained nurse, and
without knowledge Of home nursing
and hygiene.
Many Rcd Cross officials have asked
TO be relieved OF their duties, saying
they had given their time as a war
" AhAAAA uMAs ~ AllnmN VI NlNLNN al Y
business men" said Mr.. Scott" It will
be better that other officials more con-
versani with health and social work
should take their places"
General Charles Bird. head of Della
ware Chapter and chairman Of the con-
ference. spoke OF his connection with
the Red Cross since its Organization.
He said Delaware Chapter was making
surgical dressings for hospitals con
ducting classes in public health. home
nursing and hygiene. and otherwise
putting the peace health program into
immediate effect.
Miss Susan Francis. director OF the
department OF nursing. gave a practical
talk on what Delaware Chapter Is doing
In public health nursing. The public
health nurse. she said, will so into
homes 10 care for the sick and instruct
the we'll: she Will meet with classes TO
instruct in prevention and care OF dis
eases. and in hygiene. Miss Francis
said hospital nurses told her that they
expected an outbreak OF sickness when
schools opened in the autumn. she
thought parents did not realize the
need OF recognizing early symptoms Of
communicable disease: also they put
TOO much faith in patent medicines.
Public interest in sanitary milk, in good
sewage systems. and so on would be
aroused. J. W. Faust. assistant di-
vision manager, spoke on the proposal
OF the Red Gross 10 establish health
ceniers in every community
1T is not the Red Cross purpose TO
supplant existing organizations" said
MIR Faust We wish 10 supplement
and coordinate the health work in one
center. with the expectation that the
community organizations will finally
assume these obligations themselves in
full.
The findings OF the war draft boards
that % per cont. Of the men examined
were physically unit and that country
boys furnished the majority OF ply
sically deficient. gave us a jolt This
revelation Of the countrys weakness.
the influenza epidemic. and the vital
concern Of European war commissions
with health questions abroad. have
made US realize the need OF health CEN
ters Will include child welfare. classes
In nursing, clinics and other correlated
activities carried on from one central
building
Miss Francis spoke OF the need OF in
teresting young women In the nursing
profession and OF giving graduate
nurses the opportunity TO take special
training in public health nursing.
Dr. /. G.. Nusbaum. assistant super
iniendent Of the Philadelphia Schools.
director OF the junior department Of the
Red Cross, spoke OF the Red Cross
training TO be given in connectian with
school work The Junior Red Cross
gave eleven million dollars worth Of
supplies during the war. They did won
derfu work in making refugee gar
ments. DR.. Nusbaum read a new re-
poH on junior war reconstruction
work, including colonies supported by
Junior Red Cross funds, vacations for a
thousand children, recreation centers
for children In Pnrls. scholarships In Vo-
tstlonal and secondary schools. day
nurseries. care OF war nutllated chill
dren. orphanages, and agricultural sp-
prentlceships.
"A fine result Of this activity
abroad" said Or. Nusbaum. "ls that
the school children OF America have
become so Interested In helping others
that they are helping crlpples and poor
children all over the Cnied states"
by insurlng our children through
the Red Cross with American ideals, we
are building up a finer type OF citizen
ship he concluded
The audience applauded The story OF
the little boy who objected to sending
the Belgian bnbles caps without RIB