Williams news., 1920-08-27
NATIONWIDE FIGHT
 AGAINST DISEASE
American Red Cross Will Have Health CenterS in All Parts
 of United States.

1u0 AmST2C6h ESO CfOBS nAS iAuHC1f~ ed upon . nation wide campaign of fighting disease and physical defect
 "ng the American people. new MAe unique health institution has come M being as the result of several ALHlths' study by the Red Cross Health Service Department 1t 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 as familiar to the peo- pie everywhere as arc now the signs of the telegraph companies.
 Busy Long Before War.
 The interest of the American Red Cross in the fight against disease is not, however. of recent origin. Long before the war the organization began this health service through its medical units In disaster relief work and It's department of Town and County Nurs- ing. During tho war and following the armistiee thousands of American Red Cross officials have been lighting disease in the war-strieken countries. At the same time tens of thousands or local Red Cross officials have been en- gagged at home fighting disease. nota- bly during tho influenza epidenics-
 The American Ped Cross has de termined that all this valuable experi- ence in health service abroad and at home shall not go to waste So long as there are a half . million people dying yearly in this eountry from pre- ventable causes, and So long as more than one-third of the American chill dren and young people are victira of physical defects. the Red Gross recog- nizes the urgent need fer condnued Red Cross health service at heue.
 New Organization Wertss.
 The Red Cfoss Health Center Is governed by business principles. ap- plies business methodA and, tn Its more simple form. can be established and conducted by lay people.
 1t proceeds upon the demonstrated fact that health fs . commodity that can be bought and sold like erooms and soap. Therefore, 1t establishes it. self in a storeroom in the principal business section of the community. It displays it's goods in the form of at- tract1vs health exhibits in its show windows. It advertises constantly and extensively. And 1t uses every busi- ness and social device to attract GUS tomerA
 The Red Cress Health Center is of service to the sick ia that 1t gives cut reliable and complete information about existing ciinics, hospitals. sAna- toria and ethsr institutions fer the sick and the defective; about available nurses, both trained aad practical; l; about when ss eeAsuit . physician and why to sAun the suack and his nes- trunas.
 Teaching Dsssass Prevention.
 The Red Cross Health Center is. however. of even greater service to the well. IL teaches people hsw te pre- vent sick ness and dise&se- This is ceae in many interesting and attractive wayB-Arst of all. by the distribution of popular health literature and through health lectures illustrated with lantern slides or with health motion picture f 'ns. Then special exhibits are given, en~ after the other, on various health suhiccts. Practical demonstra- tions are ms de also health playlets by children to interest and instruct them selves ard their elders. Classes are organized in personal hygiene, home care of the sick. first aid and in feod selection and preparation. Health clubs. both for younger and older peo- pie, are formed; also Little Mothers Leagues. Nutrition and growth clinics are conducted for children.
 Already more than a hundred of these Red Cross Health Centers are in actual operation throughout the eoun- try. Many of them also conduct med ieal clinics, but the one chief, out standing fea ture of the American Red | Cress Health Center is it's health edu- cation service which teaches we'll peo- 1 pie hew te keep we'll.