The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1920-09-08
NATIONWIDE FIGHT
AGAINST DISEASE
American Red Cross Will Have
Health Centers in All Parts
OF United States.

The American Red Cross has launch
ed upon nation Wide campaign OF
FIGHTING disease and physical defect
among the American people. new
and unique health Institution has come
into being as the result OF several
months study by the Red Cross Health
Service Department at National Head
quarters
Officials in charge OF the department
predict that before long this new health
activity will be In actual operation all
over the country. and that the sign
American Red Cross Health Center"
will become 40 familiar TO the peo-
Pile everywhere as arc now the signs OF
the telegraph companies.
susy Long Before War.
The interest OF the American Red
Cross In the Eight against disease Is
not, however. OF recent origin. Long
before the war the organization began
this health service through It's medical
units In disaster relief work and Its
department OF Town and County Nurs'
Ing During the war and following
the urmistice thousands OF American
Red Cross officials have been fighting
disease In the wnr-strichen countries.
AT the same time tens OF thousands of
local Red Cross officials have been en-
gagged at home fighting disease. notn-
bly, during the influenza epidcmics.
The American Ped Cross has de-
termined that all this valuable expert
ence In health service nbroad and nj
home shnll not 80 TO waste. So long
MS there are half a million people
dying yearly in this country from pre-
,cnrnblu causes, and SO long us more
than onc-third OF tie American chill
dren and young people arc victims OF
PLY steal defects. the Red Cross rccog-
nizes the urgent need for continued
Rcd Cross health service At home.
How Organization Works.
The Red Cross Health Center Is
governed by Business principles, mp
plies business methods, and. In Its
more simple form, can be established
and conducted b. lay people.
II proceeds upon the demonstrated
fRct thut health is e commodity that
can be bought and sold like brooms
aud soap. Therefore, Il establishes H.
self In storeroOm In the principal
business section OF the community. II
displays Its goods In the form OF at
tractive health exhibits in its show
windows. II ndvertises constantly and
extensively. And Il uses every bust.
ness and social device to attract Gus.
toners
The Red Cross Health Center is OF
service 10 the sick In that 1t gives out
reliable and complete Information
about existing clinics, hospitals, sann-
toria and otho,' Institutions for the sick
and the defective; about available
nurses. both trained ana practical
about when to consult physician and
why to shun the Qunck and his nos
trums
Teaching Disease Prevention.
The Red Cross Health Center Is.
however, OF even greater service to the
we'll. II teaches people how to pre-.
vent sickness and disease This in done
In many Interesting and attractive
ways--tirst OF all by the distribution
OF popular health literature and
through health lectures Illustrated With
lantern slides or with health motion
picture hims. Then Spacial exhibits are
given. one after the other, on various
health subjects Practical demonstra.
tons are made; nlso health playlets by
children to Interest and instruct them.
selves and their elders. Glasses are
organized In personal hygiene, home
care OF the sick, first aid and In food
selection and preparation. Health
clubs both for yonnger and nidnr rao
pie, nre formed; also Little Mothers
Leagues. Nutrition md growth cllnics
are conducted for children.
Already more than hundred Of
these Red Cross Health Centers are In
actual operation throughout the coun.
try. Many Of them also conduct med.
ical clinics. but the one chief, out.
standing feature OF the American Red
Cross Health Center is Its health edu.
cation service which teaches we'll PEG
pie how TO keep well.