Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-04-01
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 a nation wide campaign of
fighting disease and physical defect
among the American people. 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 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 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 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 al |
home shall not go to waste. SO long !
as there are a half a million people I.
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- !
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 a commodity that
can be bought and sold like brooms
and soap. Therefore, 1t establishes it.
self in 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. 1t advertises constantly and
And it uses every bust
ness and social device to attract GUS
toners.
The Red Cross Health Center = of
service to the sick in that it Civ }out F
reliable and complete infor ,dtion
about existing clinics, hospital lsana-
.oria and other institutions for lie sick
and the defective; about a ailable
nurses, both trained and practical;
about when to consult physician and
Why to shun the Quack and his nos
runs.
Teaching Disease Prevention.
The Red Cross Health Center is,
lowever, of even greater service to the
veil. It teaches people how to pre-
'ent sickness and disease. This is done
n many interesting and attractive
Vay@6rst Of all, by the distribution
# popular health Literature and
through health lectures Illustrated with
antern slides or with health motion
'icture films Then special exhibits are
,fven, one after the other, on various
lealth subjects. Practical demonstra-
ions are made; also health playlets by
hildren to interest and instruct them
elves and their elders. Glasses are
rganized in personal hygiene, home
are Of the sick, first aid and in food
election and preparation. Health
lubs, both for younger and older peo-
lie, are formed; also Little Mothers t
Nutrition and growth clinics
re conducted for children.
Already more than a hundred Of
hese Red Cross Health Centers are in
ctual operation throughout the coup-
~. Many of them also conduct med
cal clinics, but the one chief, out
landing feature Of the American Red :
ross Health Center is fits health edu- !
alton service which teaches we'll peo-
lie how to keep well.