Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1939-11-10
Red Cross Nurse
Reserve at Peak
Disaster Service, Home Nursing,
Health Education, Keep
Thousands Busy

Washington.-The Red Cross reserve
Of registered nurses qualified for i'm.
mediate duty is stronger than ever
before, Miss Mary Beard, director Of
the American Red Cross nursing ser.
vices, announced.
1--WE now have q first reserve Of
$4,000 unmarried nurses under 40 years
of age available for duty with the
Army, Navy or government nursing
services and subject to call by the Red
Cross for disaster work." she said.
"This is 700 more than any previous
first reserve registration"
Miss Beard pointed out that the in
crease has been gradual and that only
registered nurses meeting rigid require
ments Of training and physical fitness
are enrolled. All classes of nurse
reservists. including nurses now EN-.
ployed by the Red Cross. bring the
reserve corps total to 44,2S3. During the
World War Of 1914-18 the American Red
Cross mustered nearly 10000 nurses for
duty with Army, Navy and Red Cross
hospitals, at home and overseas.
is provided by our charter and Is in
line with Red Cross policies of proven.
ton and preparedness. but the peace.
time work Of our nurses is equally i'm.
portant." Miss Beard said.
The director explained that more
than 1000 nurses, chiefly home hygiene
and care of the sick instructors. were
regularly engaged in visiting the sick,
aiding physicians in examining school
children, conducting incubation pro-
grams to stamp out contagious illness.
launching trial nursing services in out
of-the-way communities, and carrying
on important health education work
to qualify family groups to care for
sickness at home.
All nurses who are needed for Red
Cross nursing activities are drawn
from the Red Cross reserve Of qualified
nurses, Miss Beard said.
Last year Red Cross public health
nurses made more than one million
visits on behalf Of the sick and gave
skilled care to 272,729 persons.
Last year. in schools and clinics.
nurses cooperated with physicians in
examining 595,575 children, and aided
in the task of correcting defects. Chill
dren examined were enrolled for the
most part in rural schools where this
type of preventive service is rare.
There are 655 Red Cross nurses en-.
gagged in this work in ATT communities.
In the field Of health education. Red
In CTS
than 100000 family members since
1914 in how to care for the sick at home
and have set new standards of hygiene
for the family. Last year the Nursing
Service held 4,505 classes in home
hygiene and care Of the sick and
awarded certificates to 61,296 persons
who passed examinations on the sub
Jects taught.
Because the nucleus Of all Red
Cross nursing activity is our nurses
reserve. it is a source of great satisfac.
ton that each month the list Of an.
plicants increases" Miss Beard said.
This service to the public Is sup
ported by the men and women who join
as members Of the Red Cross, through
their local Chapters, during the Roll
Call, November II to 30.
1.-THE Red Cross is not interested in
the origins of the present conflict"
Chairman Davis declared following his
cabled offer Of assistance to the Inter.
national red Cross Committee. "As
part Of the great International Red
Cross It is our duty to do what we can
to aid the helpless civilians who will
suffer during the hostilities."
An Inquiry and Information Service
was organized through which contact
would be made with relatives Of Ameri.
cans in the belligerent countries.