Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1920-12-02
NATIONWIDE FIGHT
AGAINST DISEASE
American Red Cross Will Have
Health centers in Ali Parts
of United States.

The American Red Cross has launch
ed upon nation wide campaign of
fighting disease and physical defect
among the American people new
and unique health institution has come
into being as the result of several
months study by the Red Cross Health
Service Department at Nauonal-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
pie everywhere 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 Nurs-
ing During the war and following
the armfstice 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 at home fighting disease, nota-'
bly, during the Influenza epidemics.
The American Ped Cross has de-
termined that all this valuable expert
home shall not go to waste So long
there a half million people
dying yearly in this country from pre-
ventabIe causes, and SO 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, APP
plies business methods, and, in its
more simple form, can be established
and conducted By lay people
1t proceeds upon the demonstrated
fact that health is commodity that
can be bought and sold like brooms
and soap. Therefore, it establishes it
self in storeroom In the principal
business section of the community. 1t
displays its goods in the form of at
tractive health exhibits in its show
windows 1t advertises constantly and
extensively. And it uses every bust
ness and social device to attract Gus
toners
The Red Cross Health Center is of
service to the sick in that it 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 a 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
we'll 1t teaches people how to pre-
vent sickness and disease. This is done
in many Interesting and attractive
ways-zfirst of all. by the distribution
of popular health literature and
through health lectures Illustrated with
picture films. Then special exhibits are
given. one after the other, on various
health subjects Practical demonstra-
tions are made; also health p1aylets 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 prepare ton Heal tn
clubs. both for younger and older PEG
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
teal 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-