Evening star., 1936-09-26
REPULSE DISASTER
Red Cross Experts Always Working at Task
of Saving-APPeal Here in Member
ship Campaign.

HlOIc Will 20 llUO Tic <tcu NIOcc luIlu
for activities in Washington.
So many of the Capitals residents
are from other parts of the country
that no disaster. no accident, on the
highway or in the home, within the
borders Of the United States and its
Territories, is entirely remote. When
ever there is calamity in some other
region which demands the service Of
the Red Cross, some resident, or resi-
dents, of this city is affected So
called follow" stories in newspapers
here not Infrequently tell of Wash
ingtonians whose relatives or friends
have been smacked by tragedy in
other communities.
One reason for the large member
ship which the District Red Cross is
seeking this year-the biggest mem
bership goal in peacetime-is that
WaShingtonians can better afford to
give than most populations. This Is
often referred to as a city of white
collar workers. the majority Of work.
ing people being Government clerks,
sub-executives or executives. This
class of worker draws a bigger salary
per capita than do most workers in
cities of a different economic com.
plexion.
WHAT are some of the activities of
the Red Cross in Washington?
1t takes enumeration to make them
come home to many persons. They
are going on all the time, however,
day in and day out, year in and year
out. Not much fanfare. perhaps, but
plenty of accomplishment.
Swimming safety is one of the most
important items of the Red Cross pro-
gram here. AS it is everywhere in tenn
perate climes, swimming is one of the
most popular of sports here from May
to October. AS new swimming facili.
ties become available, and new swim.
mers develop. one of the Red Cross
major aims is to teach all who would
swim how to swim right. how to teach
others to swim and what to do when
drowning threatens.
Here is the record of the District
Red Cross during the past year in
promoting water safety: Taught SWIM
ming and life saving in 40 pools and
camps in and around Washington, CIV
ing instruction to more than 5000
men, women and children; qualiied
1887 as beginners, $50 as swimmers,
2S4 as junior life savers, 153 as senior
life savers and SO as examiners. .au-
thorized to give life-saving tests to
others; conducted. with the aid Of
The Star, a Learn to Swim" cam
paign at playground and welfare and
recreational association pools, giving
a course Of six lessons to 1,57O bows
and girls; gave life-saving demonstra.
tions at Y. w. C. A. open house"
evenings before a group of Sea Scouts,
at the opening of the Columbia Coun-
try Club, held at the Marjorie Web
ster School.
In addition, the District Chapter
gave water shows at the annual ban
quet of the Clinical Club of Washing
ton and for ladies attending the In.
ternational Kiwanis Club Convention.
Much Of the training Of lifeguards
at local pools was done by Red Cross
experts.
OF EQUAL importance was the
chapters first aid program.
When high wind blew sparks from
fireworks onto the huge crowd at the
Fourth Of July celebration on the
Washington Monument Grounds, q
Red Cross first-aid detail treated 80
injured persons. During the March
flood a similar first-aid corps served
night and day during construction Of
the protection dikes.
More than 1900 students enrolled
in the chapters "a first-aid classes.
Among those receiving instruction
were playground directors, nurses, c.
c. c. workers, Fire Department Drill
School students, college and high
school students, colored Community
Center officials, Y. w. C. A. members,
Girl and Boy Scouts, Metropolitan
Police School students, National
Broadcasting Co. engineers. hiking
club members, employees Of the Cap
ital Transit co. and Government
building guards.
Wherever there is q crowd, and
the accompanying dangers, the Red
Cross is on hand to render first aid.
The ambulance of the chapters motor
corps has become q familiar and CON-
forting sight at such events as the
Presidents Cup Regatta, the HALO
ween. Constitution day and Army day
parades. the Easter egg rolling on the
White House lawn, bridge and memo
rial statue dedications, field days, OUT
ings and conventions.
The chapter carried on q home &C.
cident-prevention campaign through.
out the city by distributing "inspec-
ton" blanks to public and parochial
school children. The children were
asked to bring these blanks home and
check up on accident hazards. Radio
talks were another means Of spread
ing warnings and telling householdess
OF conditions that may cause grave