Milford chronicle., 1921-04-22
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. 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 Ang 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 lighting |
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 epldemics.
The American Ped Cross has de-
termined that 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-thlrd Of the American chill
dren and young people are victims Of
physical defects, the Red Cross recOg-
liZes 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
ind conducted by lay people.
1t proceeds upon the demonstrated
act that health is a commodity that
an be bought and sold like brooms
nd soap. Therefore, It establishes It.
elf in a stOrerOOm in the principal
BUSINESS section of the community. II
isplays its goods in the form Of at
ractlve health exhibits in its show
It advertlses constantly and
And it uses every busl- I
ess and social device to attract GUS G
Omers.
The Red Cross Health Center is Of f
ervice to the sick in that 1t gives out 7
eliable and complete information s
bout existing clinics, hospitals. sana. a
,ria and Other institutions for the sick
Dd the defective; about available
urses. both trained and practical;
bout when to consult a physician and
ny to shun the quack and his nos.
ums.
Teaching Disease Prevention. |
The Red Cross Health Center is, |
1wever, of even greater service to the
ell. 1t teaches people how to pre-. II
mt sickness and disease. This is done
many interesting and attractive IN
ays-hrst of all. by the distribution is
popular health literature and L
rough health lectures illustrated with q
intern slides or with health motion
cture films. Then special exhibits are
ven, one after the other, on various
alth subjects. Practical demonstra.
ms are made; also health playlets by
ildren to interest and instruct them de
Ives and their elders. Classes are ST
ganized in personal hygiene, home ps
re Of the sick, first aid and in food nc
ectiOn and preparation. Health us
lbs, both for younger and older peo. nm
J, are formed; also Little Mothers ofI
agues Nutrition and growth clinics o.,
! conducted for children.
Already more than a hundred OF -,
,se Red Cross Health Centers are in nj
ual operation throughout the coun.
Many Of them also conduct med. Jo
! clinics, but the one chief, out.
nding feature Of the American Red
,ss Health Center is its health edu.
ion service which teaches well peo.
how to keep well. su,
| str