The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-10-28
NATIONWIDE FIGHT
AGAINST DISEASE
American Red Cross Win Have
Health Centers in All Parts
OF United States.

The American Red Cross has launch.
ed upon q nation wide campaign OF
lighting dsease and physical defect
among tie American people A new
and unique health institution has come
into being as the result OF several
months study by the Red Cross Health
Service Department at National Head
quarters
officials IN charge OF the department
predict that before long this new health
activity viii be In actual operation all
over the country, and that the sign
I American Red Cross Health Center"
will become as familiar to the peo-
j 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 Nurs-
ing. During the war and following
the armlstice 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
ence In health service abroad and at
home shall not 90 TO waste. So long
as there are half a million people
dying yearly in this country from pre-
ventable 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-
nlzes 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 b. lay people.
Ii proceeds upon the demonstrated |
fact that health Is a commodity that |
can be bought and sold like brooms |
and soap. Therefore, IL establishes IL |
self in a storeroom in the principal |
business section Of the community II /
displays IT'S goods in the form Of at
tractive health exhibits I'm It's show /
windows. II adyertises 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 II gives out
reliable and complete information
about existing clinics, hospitals. sana-
torla and other institutions for the sick
and the defective; about available
nurses, both trained and practical
about when 10 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
well II teaches people how TO pre-
vent sickness and disease. This is done
III many llA'lfNAlAA hhh hNAA "'Ai''
OF ALL 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
and preparation. Health
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
.hese 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-
,ation service which teaches well peo-
Die how 10 keep well