Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-08-24
NATIONWIDE FIGHT
AGAINST DISEASE
smerican Red Cross viii Have
Health centers in All Parts
Of United States.

The American Red Gross has ihuhch.
ed upon a nation wide calnpaisn u
fighting disease and physical deiec.
among the American people. ne"
and unique health institution mas GUN.
into 'lieing as the result OK se'e,ai
months study by The Red cross rle"'''
Service Department al Nnilohi'l i1eao
quarters.
Officials in charge OF the department
predict that before long this ne" heA'',,
activity will be In actua! operation ~
over the country, and that the sigh
american Red Cross Health Iel''e'
will become as familiar TO the peo-
pie everywhere as are now the Signs "a
the telegraph companies.
Busy Long Before War.
The interest OF the American Rea
Cross In the fight against disease 10
not. however, Of recent origin. Long
before the war the organization besah
this health service through us ihet''."'
units I'm disaster relief work ana IT'S
department Of Town and Count! Nufs
Ing. During the war ana following
tile armistice thousands or Ahiel'e""
Red Cross officials have been hthtihS
disease in The war-Stricken countries.
Ar the same time tens OF lhouSandS o.
local Red Gross officials have Deen e''-
gagged ct home fighting disease. n"'a-
bly, during the influenza cridemics.
The American FED Cross has de'
terlnined that MI this valuable e2prri'
ence in health service abroad anu al
home shall not so 10 waste. ;" lo'ls
as there are half Il million people
dying yearly in this country from pre-
yentab!e causes, aud 50 long as more
tl,nn one-third Of me American chill
dren and Young people are victims Oh
physical defects, the Red Cross rec"g-
piZes the urgent need for continued
led Cross health service nj home.
How Organization Works.
The Red Cross Health Center Is
governed by business principles, ap-
niles business methods, and. III lis
more simple form, can he established
and conducted b. lay people.
II proceeds upon the demonstrated
fact that health is commodity tlat
can be bought and sold like broons
and soap. Therefore, il establishes II
self in storeroom In the principal
business section of tie community. II
displays its goods in tile form OF at
tractive health exhibits In It's show
windows. II adrertises constantly ANA
extSssiveM. And II uses every bust
ness and social device to attract Gus
toners.
The Red Cross Health Center Is Of
service TO The sick in that il gives out
reliable AMI complete information
about existing clinics, hospitals. SAINT
toria and other institutions for The sick
and The defective; about available
nurses, both trained and practical
about when 10 consult Il physician ana
WHY TO shm the qUack AMI los nos
trumS.
Teaching Disease Prevention.
The Red Cross Health Center Is,
however OF even greater service to the
well. II teaches people how Ia pre-
vent sickness and disease. This is done
In many Interesting aud attractive
ways-frst Of all. by the distribution
Of popular health literature ana
through health lectures illustrated with
lantern slides or with health motion
picture films. Then special exhibits are
given, one after the other. on vnri0ilS
health subjects. Practical denonStra-
lions are made also health playiets ny
children 10 iutereS; and instruct them
scIres and their elders. Glasses are
organized IN personal hygiene. home
care Of the Sick first aid and In food
selection and preparation. Hen'th
clubs, both for younger, ana o"irr neo-
pie. are formed also Little Mothers
Leagues. Nutrition and growth clinics
are conducted for children.
Already more than hundred of
these Red Cross Health rentcrs are in
actual operation throughout the r"''Ii-
try. Many OF them niso conduct med
ical clinics. but the one chief. out
sanding feature Of the American Rea
Cross Health Center Is lis health ed'i-
cation service which tcncheS well peo-
pie how Ia keep well.
FRENCH PRAISE FOR