The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-10-13
Annual Report Of Organ
ization Reveals HUI
manitarian Work
(By International News service)


WASHINGTON, Oct. 13.-The &C
tivities of the American Red eros
for the fiscal year ending June 3
last, fulfilling the peace-time obliga
lions of it's congressional charter b
mitigating suffering caused by dis
aster and pestilence, and in devisin;
and carrying on measures for pre-
venting the same, are shown by it
forthcoming annual report to hav,
touched, in some form, more thai
$4,000 American communities.
During the year Red Cross de
partment of health service has beer
organized; it's nursing service has
been extended to meet a growing de.
mand for public health nursing until
over $4,000 nurses are now on its
rolls; it's first aid to injured courses
have been widely taught, 5000 per-
sons having been awarded first aid
certificates during the year, and the
American Red Cross has been the
chief factor in the formation of the
League Of Red Cross societies with
headquarters in Geneva.
The department of health service
was established December 1, 1919.
On June 80, 1920, there were in &C.
tive operation 1913 health centres
from which radiate innumerable ac-
tivities designed to improve the
health of the community and pre-
vent the spread of disease, while 435
Red Cross chapters. were actively en-
gagged in disease-preventive work.
Award Certificates
The bureau of first aid to injured
was transferred from the department
of military relief to the health de-
partment January 1, 1920. In addi-
ton to the 5000 certificates issued
to those who have taken regular
courses, 465 medals have been
awarded, ten first aid contests have
taken place in various states, 1900
medallions have been distributed and
775 Junior members have been
awarded emblems.
The life-saving, or water first aid,
service has been extended the past
year by the addition of twenty-nine
Red Cross life-saving corps and the
enrolment of 1900 new members, of
whom 500 are women. There is now
a complete womans corps in this
branch of the service.
The health department also in
cludes a bureau of medical social SER
vice, which had under its supervision
June 80, 1920, 312 Red Cross en-
ployes serving fifty-two public health
hospitals. OF this number 1875 are
hospital social workers, and during
the year 30,422 patients have re-
ceived from this bureau some form
of Red Cross service.
Place War Nurses
In the department of nursing the
fiscal year was one of transition from
military to civil activities AS the
Red Cross had assigned 10000 grad
uate nurses to war service the de-
partment of nursing felt responsible
for their proper return to civilian life
and to this end has conducted a bu-
Teau of information which has aided
in placing at least $500 of those who
have sought its aid. In this connec-
ton, also, the Red Cross appropri-
ated $4,000 for the establishment
Of a convalescent home for sick
nurses.
Of the 604 nurses attached to the
various American Red Cross commits
sions in Europe wien the armistice
was signed all but 116 had returned
to the United States by June 80,
1920. OF these &c were in Poland,
46 in the Balkans, two in France
and two in Bohemia. Six scholar
ships to prepare nurses for foreign
service have been established at
Kings college.
Enrolment in the Red Cross nurs- |
ing service increased during the year
from 35,426 to 36,705.' On June 80
there were in active service 504 in
the army, 321 in the navy, and 94S
in the public health corps.
In order to increase the number of
qualified public health nurses, for
which there is urgent demand, 28S
have been established
and sixty-seven loans have been
made from national fund to public
health nursing. In addition, approx
imately $50 scholarships have been
awarded by the various chapters, the
Chapter of Boston
alone appropriating a fund sufficient
for sixty, while the New York County
chapter appropriated $4,000 toward
the preparation Of public health
nurses at the Henry Street settle
ment Funds have also been given
to the University Of Minnesota. Pea
body college, Tulane university, Uni
versity Of Louisville and University |
of California.
Home Hygiene
Development in class instruction |
in home hygiene and care of the sick |
has increased three-fold during the
fiscal year, the number having in