The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-06
RED CROSS IN FLU.
Efficient Work by Big Organiza-
ton in Kansas.
Resources All Over State Raj
lied to Health Call.
PITIFUL CASES ARE FOUND
In South Home Was Filled With
Dead and Dying.
American Legion Heroes Aided
One Kansas Nurse.

With the definite disappearance OF
the influenza epidemic which within
the past few weeks scourged Kansas,
taking a death toll of hundreds of
lives within the short space of one
month southwestern divisional head
quarters of the Red Cross at st. Louis
today issued a statement concerning
the operations of the Red Cross dur
ing the emergency.
When it became evident that the
disease was assuming epidemic pro-
portions Division Manager Alfred
Fairbank wired Red Cross chapters
thruout the state instructing them at
once to get in touch with local and
state health officers. The resources
of the Red Cross organization were
thus simultaneously offered the health
authorities. Red Cross officials made
plain their readiness to work in con-
junction with and under the direction
of the health officials in carrying out
such preventive measures as might be
put forth.
1t early became evident that the
scarcity of nurses was to be the out
standing need of the fight against
influenza. Rich and poor alike found
difficulty in procuring nurses. Cities
and towns everywhere sent out frantic
calls for nurses and doctors.
2,OOO women HcSpOnded-
To partially meet this need Red
Cross chapters temporarily disbanded
most of the 1856 classes in home nurs-
ing thruout the southwestern division
the states of<Missouri, Kansas, Texas.
Arkansas and Oklahoma. Upwards of
1000 women in these classes who for
weeks has been receiving instruction
on what to do in just such an emer-
gency literally and figuratively rolled
up their sleeves and stepped into the
breach. They became lay women
helpers working under the direction
of such graduate nurses as the Red
Cross and the health authorities were
able to muster. Cases are on record
where such women worked SO and 4S
hours at a stretch without relief in
caring for flu sufferers. Sixty-seven
Red Cross public health nurses as well
as the instructors Of the home nursing
classes added their efforts. Some
worked frantically 16, 8 and even 20
hours out of the day. They knew no
office hours.
Nevertheless the number of flu and
pneumonia cases rose. Emergency
hospitals were started by Red Cross
workers. Churches were pressed into
service as temporary abiding places
for the sick. Diet kitchens were estab-
lished and in the larger towns and
cities women of the Red Cross Motor
corps delivered broths and soups and
sick room delicacies to those unable
Otherwise to obtain such food. Sur
gical dressings workers recalled their
wartime skill and began the manu-
1acture OF thousands of flu masks. Flu
bulletins were sent out warming the
ignorant of the dangers of crowds and
lack of ventilation.
PltifuI Cases Found.
Pitiful cases were found. Red Cross
workers entered one home in Okla
homa to find two children of the fam
lily of B. NJ. Parker dead from infIu-
enza, Mrs. Parker and a small baby
dying and the father and three other
children desperately i'll from pneu-
monia. Nurses who visited the home
one morning found a child ill with
pneumonia on cot on the floor of
the little kitchen, few feet farther
away from the door, a second child
was lying on the bed by the side of a
dead brother. In the other room of
the two-room house, the mother was
lying in a dying condition with her
infant baby dead in her arms.
One Red Cross public health nurse
in Kansas didn't bother to send out a
call for volunteers She just looked
up the nearest American Legion post
and walked off with ten husky service
men who promptly volunteered to do
anything in their power for the young
Red Cross woman.
Three more volunteers came in the
next day, and soon all thirteen were
at work, some nursing, some cooking,
some doing chores. one driving nurses
over the county in his car, carrying
help to isolated families afflicted
THESE boys are a loyal bunch of
efficient workers." said the Red Cross
worker at the time.
'All 1t took was a suggestion that
the Red Cross needed some help in
taking care of flu victims, and they
were right on the job