The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-07-15
HOW THE PUBLIC HEALTH
NURSE PROTECTS CHILDREN

One of the very important service
which a Public Health Nurse ma!
render to any community is tina
of observing the conditions of tn,
school children. 1t is always neces
sary to know If the school children
of a community are physically sound
Each year new children enter tn,
schools and these children as well al
those already in school should be il
sound physical condition. If thel
are not they cannot possibly accep
and use the education which oul
schools offer and it is quite as mucf
a public duty to put good health
within the reach of our children al
it is to put education.
For this reason many schools
the country include {
thorough physical examination Of
the school children as part of theil
regular work, but in those school:
where this is not done Public
Health Nurse may we'll include this
as a part of her regular days work
Such a nurse has many opportunities
to observe the school children and
because of her practical eye, she is
able to note when they seem physi-
cally defective and closer examina-
ton usually reveals the cause. The
signs of mal-nutrition, for instance,
are very easily recognized and by us
ing any good pair of scales the Public
Health Nurse may soon determine by
the child's weight if it is physically
below par and it becomes part of
her duty to explain this 80 parents
md make them understand how even
IN apparently we'll boy or girl may
'eally be in need of special attention.
In places where physical exami-
nation of school is regularly under
aiken as a part of the school work,
he nurse is still an important part
If this work for it has been proven
" statistics carefully compiled that
where such nurse visits the homes
md explains the condition of the
;hild to the parent 80 per cent of
he physical defects are corrected,
While in places where there are no
lurses only 20 per cent of corrections
re made.
Recent examinations of school
hildren have revealed a surprising
lumber of small sufferers from va
ious forms of heart trouble, and
When such cases are found the Pub
ic Health Nurse is a wonderful help
n supervising the hours of work for
hese children; in explaining the
angers of over-exercise and in di-
Getting the kinds of play which it
hall be permitted. This informa-
ion is invaluable to both teacher and
aren't.
Prof. P. P. Claxton, U. s. Commits
Toner of Education, speaking of this
ubject says: Health is the first OBJ
ect of education; among the various
gencies involved in an effective pro-
ram for guarding the health of the
chool children and teaching them
ealth habits none is more important
han the school nurse. More school
Iurses are needed. A school system
Without a school nurse is an incom-
lete system.
II a nurse in given community
annot be employed for this alone,
he Public Health Nurse may devote
fixed portion of her time to this
pecial work.
1t has been estimated that of the
100000 school children in the
United States 100000 are suffer-
ng from some form of physical de-
ect. No examination by any physi-
ian nor any suggested treatment
ould change this condition unless
he understanding of the parents is
ad' and the cooperation and con-
emit as well. BY that means alone
an these children be given the at
ention they demand.
The Public Health Nurse by her
lists to the home and by her untir-
lg efforts to explain to parents what
leir children need, has become the
reatest possible help in securing
ealth for those children most in
eed of it.
Many of the physical defects found
/ children are simple and can readi-
: be corrected during childhood;
lese, however, if neglected become
rave and result in physical condi-
ons which endanger health in the
rown up person. All of these dan
ers a Public Health Nurse can ex-
ain to parents without unduly
farming them. This work is al