The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-09-26
N0RTHDAK0TA
CUTS ILLN ESS
THROUGH CARE.
Red Cross Records Show That
Great Strides Are Made in j
Disease Prevention
NURSES WELL RECEIVED


(From Red Cross Headquarters.)
"Here Is our nurse" was the greet
ing received by one Of the Red Cross
public health nurses upon q, recent
visit to q little rural school in the
northern part of North Dakota. They
spoke with all the pride Of posses
sion as they clambered into her
Ford and proudly called her atten-
tion to their gain in weight since
she left them. Such administrations
of loyalty from the youngsters who
are the chief care and pride of every
public health nurse, never fail to
give the nurses a thrill Of satisfac-
ton and Joy in their work which is
worth everything to them.
There is no measuring rod whic:,
can be applied to the accomplish
ments of these messengers OF
health" in this state. Figures show
ing the number of schools and homes
reached, the number Of children ex-
amined, the number of defects found
and corrected have been compiled,
to be sure, but far and beyond any
method Of calculation is the influ-
ence the Red Cross public health
nurse has had on numerous families
throughout the state, bringing to
them in the simplest possible man.
ner, the knowledge Of health prac-
tees Of many years study.
North Dakota has made a great
stride forward in its effort to reduce
preventablc illness to the minimum.
Fifteen Red Cross public health
nurses on duty in as many counties
are largely responsible for the i'm
proved conditions so noticeable in
school children Of all ages. During
the past year those busy nurses made
l,744 Visits to schools and inspected
/ 45,55S children. From this number
they found 25,76O defects Of various
kinds, many of them minor condi-
tons which if corrected would en-
able the children to develop natural
ly both physically and mentally.
With the welfare of the children
at heart, teachers, doctors and par
ents co-operated with the nurses in
an effort to correct as many of these
defects as possible so that the chill.
dreh might have their chance for a
healthful, happy life. The results
were remarkable. Almost 5000, cor.
rections including teeth, tonsils, Wis
ion, hearing, speech, nasal, bone AND
others were made. Consider what
those 1900 corrections will mean II
those kiddies. Some who had beer
classed as backward Immediately hbe
gan to "catch up" to- their'9claas'
mates. Others who had been sick
ly always began to show signs VI
health that were Joy to everyone
who had had hand in the health
education. 4etscf%
But this health program does no.
stop with the corrections Of defects
It aims to prevent defects Of al
kinds by instilling into the children
the proper health habits, teathint
them that good food, plenty of rest
fresh air and sunshine are the bes
assets of a long, happy and prosper
Gus life. Thus we find school chill
dren. all over the state whose chic
aim is to be up to weight, to be abb
to carry out all the health duties
which are given them by "their'
nurse. As q result we have the abov,
enlightening figures, an accomplish
ment which means the future sue
cess of the citizens Of North Dakota
1t is to continue this education ant
to spread it to the far corners 0
the state, that the Seventh Annua
Roll Call is being conducted so en-
Enthusiastically throughout the state
In advance of the other states, Nortl
Dakota has made plans to enrol
enough members to enable it to car
ry out its program of a healthy, hap
py future for it's children. r'Af