Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1920-10-29
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 a nation wide campaign OF
fighting disease and physical defect
among the American people. a new
and unique health institution has come
into being as the result of severai
months study~by the Red Cross HeaitI
Service Department at National Head
quarters.
Officials in charge of the department
predict that before long this new healt n
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 are now the signs OF
the telegraph companies.
Busy Long Before War.
Tie interest of the American leo
Cross In the fight against disease i
not. however, of recent origin. Long
before the war the organization began
this health service through Its medica'
units in disaster relief work ana III
department of Town and County Nurs
Ing. During the war ana totioWih@
fine armistice thousands of American
Fed Cross officials have been fighting
disease In the wur-stricken countries
At the samastme tens Of thousands OIL
local Red Gross officials have been en-
gagged ct home fighting disease, nota
bly during the influenza epidemics.
The American led Cross has de-
termined that all this valuable expert
ence in health service abroad ana u
home shall not go to waste. SO long
as there are half million people
dying yearly in this country from pre-
| yentable causes, and SO long rs more
than one-thrd of tI:e American GILL
dren and. young people are victims o.
physical defects, the Red Cross recpE
! rizes the urgent need for continued
Red Cross health service at home.
How Organization Works.
The Red Cross Health Center |.
governed by business principles ap
plies business methods, and, In IT.
more simple form, can be established
and conducted b. lay people.
1t proceeds upon the demonstrated
fact that health is q commodity tina.
can be bought and sold like brooms
and soap. Therefore, 1t establishes II
self in storeroom In. the principal
business section of the community. II
displays it's goods in the form OF at
tractive health exhibits In its show
windows. 1t advertises constantly and
extensively. And 1t uses every busi.
ness and social device to attract GUS
toners.
The Red Cross Health Center Is OF
service to the sick In that 1t gives out
reliable and complete information
about existing clinics, hospitals, sana-
toria and other institutions for the sick
and the defective; about available
nurses, both trained and practical;
about when to consult physician and
why to shun the quack and his NOS
trums. --..
Teaching Disease Prevention.
The Red Cross Health Center Is,
however, of even greater service to the
well. 1t teaches people how to pre-
vent sickness and disease. This is done
u many interesting and attractive
wuys-tirst Of oil, by the distribution
of 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-
tons are made also 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 younger aDd 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 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-
- 1;o,> an ,,,bioI,. fnoal,ac wall nn0-