Connecticut western news., 1920-09-09
NATIONWIDE FIGHT
 AGAINST DISEASE
American Red Cross Will Have Health Centers in All Parts
 of United States.

The American tteC STOSS HdS IdunNii ed upon q 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 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 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 or 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 it's department of Town and County Nurs- ing. During the war and following the armistice 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 h me fighting disease, nota- bly during the influenza epidemics.
 The American Ped Cross has de termined tn: all this valuable expert ence in health service abroad and at home shall not go to waste. So long as there are a half a million people dying yearly in this country from pre- ventable causes, and so long as more than one-third of the American chil- 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. ap- plies business methods, and, in its more simple form, can be established and conducted by lay people.
 It proceeds upon the demonstrated fact that health Is B commodity that can be bought and sold like brooms and soap. Therefore, it establishes it. self in a storeroom in the principal business section of the community. It displays its goods in the form of at- tractive health exhibits in it's show windows. It 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 it gives out reliable and complete information about existing clinics, hospitals, sana- toria and other institutions for the sick 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, well. It teaches people how to pre- vent sickness and disease. This is done in many interesting and attractive ways-frst 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- tions are made; also health playlets by children to interest and instruct them selves and their elders. Classes are organized in personal hygiene, home care of the sick, first aid and in food selection and preparation. Health clubs, both for younger and 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, mt- standing feature of the American Red Cross Health Center is it's health edu- cation service which teaches we'll peo- pie how to keep well.