Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-03-31
NATIONWIDE FIGHT
.:. -. AGAINST: DISEASE
american Red Cross ,'s WIZ q ~ Have
Health Centers inaAH Parts:
-. 81. United States. ~

, The American Red Cross has launch.
ed upon: MARION wide campaign OF
fghting disease and physical detee'
among the Alnerifuu people. = ne"
and unique health institution has come.
into being as The result OF seVerai
months study by the Red Cross Hea!t!'
Service department d. National heaa'
quarters. ..~.-.
Officials In Charge Of the department
predict that before long this new hesltn
activity will be III actual operation Ill
over the couatry. and that the sign
American. Red Cross Health Gtiter
will become as familiar 10 the peo-
pie everywhere as are now the Signs %
the telegraph companies
Rusy Long Before War.
TIE interest OF the American Eco
Cross in, the fight against disease IS
not, however, of recent origin. Lohs
before the war, the organization began
this health service through It's medichl
urtts III disaster relief WORK anu 'hs
department Of Town and County Nurs'
Ing. During the war and followlhs
the srmistIce thousands Of American
Hed Cross officials have been aghang
disease In the war-strtcken countries.
At the same time tens. or thCISniGs 81
LOCAL Red Cross officials Lave been en-
gagged ST hSaIe sgh:.ns disease. nota-
bl7 iustns the influenza epideEn'cs'
The American ed Cross has de
rernllned that ail tnls valuable expert.
ence n health service abroad and al
nome shall not go 10 waste. so Iohs
as there are half million people
DYING yehrly In this ;uuntry from pre-
ventabie causes and 50 long rs more
than one-tlIrd OF the American chill
dren ard young people are victims OF
physical defects. the Red Cross recoS-
nlzes the urgent need for continued
lied Cross health Service If home.
How Organization Works.
The Red Cross Health Center II
governed by business principles, ap'
plies business methods. and, in It's
more simple form. can be established
and conducted b. lay people.
II proceeds upon the demonstrated
fact that health is commodity that
run lie bought and sold like brooms
and soap. Therefore. II establishes IL
self In stnrerooIn Ii the principal
business section OF the community. II
displays Its goods in the form or at
tractiye health exhibits IN Its show
windows. 1t adyertises constantly and
extensively. And II uses every busi-
ness and social device to attract GUS
t0nlera
The Red Cross Health Center is o"
service to the sick in that 1t gives out
reliable and complete Information
about existing cl!nlcs, hospitals, sana-
,oriu and other Institutions for the Sick
and the defective; about available
nurses, both trained and practical:
about when TO consult physician and
why TO shuu the Quack and his nos
trunls t -. -
Teaching Disease Preyentlon..
The Red Cross, Health Center Is;
however, OF even greater service to the
well. II teaches people howS TO pre-
vent sickness and disease. This is done
In many interesting and attractive
wsy,-frst Of all by the distribution
Of popular health literature agd
through health lectures illustrated With
lantern Slides or with health motion
nlcturs films. Then special exhibits afe
given, one after the other, on various
health subjects. Practical demonstrs-
,lons are made; also health plsylets 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 aud oder peo-
Die, are formed; also Little Mothers
Leagues. Nutrition and growth elm; =
are conducted for children.
Already more than a hundred Oh
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, out
standing feature of the American Red
Cross Health Center Is It's health edu-
cation service which teaches well peo-.
ole how to keep we'll. -. {