Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1920-11-19
nationwide FIGHT
AGAINST DISEASE
American Red Cross viii Have
Health CenterS in All Parts
OF United States.

The American Rec, Cross has launch
Cd upon IL nation wide 'HinpaiGi' of
fighting disease AMI physical defect
among the Aurrican rr"pI" \ new
and uniqu" hraijh in-'i!Hu"" has come
into being rs the i">ait ut several
months study hy the Red cross Health
Service department at National lead
quarters.
Officials In charge of the department
predict that before long this now health
activity will be IN nc;uHl operation All
over the country. aHi that the sign
sAmericnn Rcd tru.s Health Center
will become TX familiar to H." peo-
pie everywhere II, axe now the si,hS OF
the telegraph companies.
Busy Long Before War.
The .ntrrps, of the American Red
Cross In the fight against disease Is
not, however. of r."rn, origin Long
before the war tlr organization began
this health scry!c" 'hr"ngh It's medical
units in disaster relief work and It's
department Of Town and County Nurs-
ing. During the war and following
the arnistice thousands of American
Red Cross officials have been iigtting
diser 7e in the war stricken countries
At the same time tens OF thousands OF
local Red Cross officials have been en-
Eagcd at home fighting disease. nota-
bly, during the influenza eria"n!cS.
The American rcd Cross has de
termlned that all IRIS valuable expert
ence in health service abroad and at
home shall not go 20 waste. so long
a. there are half Il million people
dying yearly In this country from pre-
ventable causes. and so long as more
than onc-thlrd Of the American o4iil.
dren and young people are victims OF
physical defects. the Red Cross rccog.
nizps the urgent need for continued
Red Cross henlih service at home.
How Organization Works.
The Red Cross Health Center II
governed by business principles. mp
plies business methods, and, in Its
moro simple form. can be established
and conducted b.. lay people,
II proceeds upon the demonstrated
fact that health Is IA 'onln,"liiy that
can be bought and sold like hr""ins
and soap. Therefore, it establishes l.
self in storrroom in III" principal
business section Of tn" community. 1t
displays its goods In the form OF at
tractive health exhibits in lis show
windows. 1t advcrtisrs constantly and
extensively. And it uses every bust
ness and social device to attract GUS
toners.
The Red Cross Health Center IL Of
service to the sick In that II gives out
reliable and complete information
about existing clinics. hospitals Sana-
torIa and other institutions for tn" sick
and the defective: about availnble
nurses, both trained and practical;
about when to consult Il physician and
why to shun the quaCk and his nos
trums.
Teaching Disease Prevention.
The Red Cross Health Center Ia.
however. Of even greater service TO the
we'll. II teaches people how to pre-.
vent sickness and disease. This Is done
n man, interesting and attractive
Ways-hrst Of all, by the distribution
q popular health literature and
through health lectures illustrated with
lantern slides or with health motion
picture films. Then special exhibits are
Given, one after the other. on various
health subjects. Practical demonstra-
lions are made; also health playlets by
0hildrel to interest and instruct them
solves and their elders. Glasses are
organized In personal hygiene. home
care Of the sick. first aid and in food
selection and preparation. Health
dlubs. both for younger and older peO-
pie, are formed: also Little Mothers
leagues. Nutrition and growth clinics
01e conducted for children.
Already more than hundred Of
these Red Cross Health Centers are in
actual operation throughout the coun-
~. Many Of them also conduct med
leal clinics, but the one chief. ont.
standing feature Of the American Red
Cross Health Center Is it's health edu-
cation service which teaches well peo-
nAn hon, % Looo xrolI