Hermanner Volksblatt. [volume] (Hermann, Mo.) 1875-1928, 1920-11-12
NATIONWIDE FIGHT
AGAINST DISEASE
American Red Cross Win Have
Health CenterS in All Parts
OF United States.

The American Red cross mas iauncI
ed upon q nation wide campaign o
lighting disease and physical defeC
among the American people. A ue'
and unique health institution has com
lnto being as the result of severa
months study by the Red Cross Health
Service Department al National Head
quarters.
Officials in charge of the department
predict that before long this new healti
activity will be In actual operation al
over the country. and that the sign
american Red Cross Health Center
will become as familiar TO the peO
pie everywhere as are 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 its
department Of Town and County Eurs
ing. During the var and following
the arInistlce thousands Of American
Red Cross officials have been fighting
disease In the war-stricken countries
At the same time tens Of thousands Of
local Red Cross officials have been en-
gagged It home fighting disease, Dota
bly, during the influenza epldemics.
The American Ped Cross has de-
termined that all this valuable expert
ence in health service ,sNsroad and al
home shall lot go to waste. So long
as there are a half a million people
dying yearly in this country from pre-.
ventable causes. and s. long as more
than one-third of the American chill
dren and young people are victims Of
physical defects, the Red Cross recog.
nizes the urgent need for continued
Red Cross health service at home.
How Organization Works.
The Red Cross Health Center is
governed by business principles, ap-
plies business methods, and, in Its
more simple form, can be established
and conducted b. lay people.
1t proceeds upon the demonstrated
fact that health Is q commodity that
can be bought and sold like brOoms
and soap. Therefore, It establishes 1t.
self In a 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. It advertises constantly and
extensively. And it uses every bust.
ness and social device to attract Gus.
The Red Cross Health Center is of
to the sick in that 1t gives out
and complete information
about existing clinics, hospitals, nj
toria and other institutions for the sick
and the defective; about available
nurses, both trained and practical
about when TO consult a 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
well. 1t teaches people how to pre-,
vent sickness and disease. This is done
IN many interesting and attractive
ways-first Of all, by the distribution
Of popular health literature and
health lectures illustrated with
lantern slides or with health motion
films. Then special exhibits are
given, n after the other, on various
health subjects. Practical demonstra-
lions are made also health playlets by
children 10 interest and instruct them
selves and their elders. Glasses are
organized in personal hygiene, home
Of the sick, first aid and In food
selection and preparation. Health
both for younger and older peo-
pie, are formed; also Little Mothers
Leagues. Nutrition and growth clinics
ire conducted for children.
Already more than a hundred Of
Red Cross Health Centers are in
actual operation throughout the coun.
Try. Many of them also conduct med.
.cal clinics, but the one chief, out.
standing feature of the American Red
Cross Health Center is Its health edu.
cation service which teaches well peo-
pie how to keep we'll.