The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-08-06
COUNTY NURSE LADORS.
REPORT is MADE BY MISS
FLORENCE WHlPPLE
Splendid Work Performed Dur
ing the Year; Praised BY
Mrs. Wiecking

makes the following very interesting
and thorough annual report of her
work, from July %, 1919, to July IS,
1929. This report shows that Miss
Whipple, despite the inclemency OF
the cold winter months, last winter
stuck TO her post and made many
visits to the rural schools. The re-
port shows that during the year 1873
schools were visited and 4061a hours
were spent in the school rooms in
her work, and ISIS pupils were in
spected. The report in full follows:
From July 2S, 1919 to July %,
1920, the work done in the county has
been varied and l trust of much
wider scope than can be reckoned by
mere figures.
The first month was spent in Wis
1ttng different branches and becom
ing acquainted with branch officials
and physicians and dentists through
out the county ana attending the fairs
at Garden City and at Mankato,
meeting many people at both.
In September the rural school
visiting was begun and the inspection
OF pupils was continued throughout
the school year with the exception of
a month in January and February
which was devoted to influenza Wis
2Shh6 aul sing. lc bCllOOiS III
the county were all visited with the
exception of seven which closed be-
fore the nurse could visit them. The
visiting Of SO many rural schools in
spite OF cold rainy weather much Of
last fall is due to the kindness and
CO. operation shown by Mr.. Detamore,
the county superintendent of schools
who transported the nurse, and his
assistant, Miss Wiberg who helped in
the clerical work in each school. In
December the driving to the rural
schools had to be abandoned be-
cause OF snow storms and bad roads
and then the nurse went to the diff
ferent town schools and inspected the
pupils there. AS soon as spring came
more rural schools were visited and
In April the Junior Red Cross Of the
county bought an automobile for the
nurse to use In getting around the
county to the different schools and
towns. During the school year 406k
hours were spent in the schools and
13S schools were visited and physical
pleted. In the spring for the last
six weeks Of school the services of
Miss Johannes, R. N, were obtained
and she aided greatly in finishing the
school inspection of all but seven
schools. Thirty home visits have
been made to school children to eX-
plain the physical needs of the chill
dren to the parents. This is a phrase
of the work which needs more at
Mary has cavities in her teeth makes
no difference as long as she doesn't
complain of tooth ache; also if John
brings home slip stating that his
eyesight is defective John is given
his mothers glasses to wear because
she has to get a new pair anyway.
More time could be spent in home
visits IL there were not so many
schools to be visited.
During the summer the demand
for classes in home hygiene and care
of the sick was very gratifying and
classes were held at Beauford, Yer
non Center, and Amboy and last
winter one was held at Minnesota
Lake making a total enrolment of
seventy eight women and girls.
Whenever possible sick patients
reported to the nurse by doctors,
families or friends, the patients were
visited and bedside nursing care
given If needed; During the last
ed all other work and long drives in
to the country to the homes of peo-
Die sick were made as well as many
visits to homes of sick people living
in town. One hundred patients have
been cared for during the year and
240 nursing visits have been made,
visits where bedside care has been
given. These visits to not include
the three tuberculosis visits, six
prenatal visits, seventeen infant well
fare visits, thirtyeight other visits
and It's visits to schools making in
all total of 512 visits. Every school
room of children inspected has been
given at Farmers Clubs, Aid Societies.
Community Sings, and at the Old
Settlers picnic making a total Of
1853 talks IN all.
During the school year Saturday
afternoons and in the summer Sat
urday mornings have been spent at
the rest room in Mankato for con-
ferences on health work for meeting
the boys and girls and parents COM
ing In from the country and for CIV
ing advice in the care and hygiene
Of babies.-Florence v. D. Whipple,
Blue Earth county public health
nurse"
TO the branch Chapters Of Blue
Earth County American Red Cross
AS you read the yearly report of the
county public health nurse, Florence
Whipple, you will conceive, in a
measure, Of what she has done, and
VI uOW luC IlC0 NloSo 1ohu5, " WulCu
practically every man, woman and
child in the county has contributed,
have been used Every one certainly
has a right to know how this money
has been spent.
Do you know that she has visited
1873 schools and examined ISIS pu-
pills of which 1,079 were found to
have defective vision; 760, defective
tonsils; 1,708, defective teeth? Some
suffer from one, some from two or
more of these defects. Think what
this means to your child, who, but
for this examination, would probably
not know of these defects until too
late to be remedied. You remember
how appalling was the report during
the draft, when large percentage Of
our boys were rejected for one defect
or another We also know that a
great deal of that could have been
avoided, if the boys could have had
the opportunity which you are able to
offer your children now. Will you not
do your utmost to CO. operate and
see that this work can be carried on?
She has also cared for 100 patients,
made 240 nursing visits, infant well
fare visits, prenatal visits, and 9TH
erwise cared for the sick, making a
total Of 512 visits. She has also
conducted classes of home nursing at
Minnesota Lake. Beauford, Vernon
Center and Amboy. The value of
this work will be shown in case Of
g.. n..g..