Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-15
Help
More Blood Donors
Are Badly Needed
By Joan Gardner

If you feel that you do not have
time for consistent -after-week
voluntary work. then there are two
fields at least in which you can en-
list now that require the minimum
Of time and which contribute great
ly to the work of our armed forces.
The first is the Red Cross blood
plasma service. The War Depart
mept has only recently released the
total casualty list of the first year of
war. With the fighting growing more
intense and our soldiers spread on
battle lines constantly expanding,
the need for blood plasma, too,
grows larger Red Gross blood donor
centers are operated in "a cities.
The gift OF pint Of blood is some
thing that practically every Ameri-
can in sound health can afford to
give. It is. in truth, a painless ges-
ture and one which makes possible
the saving of thousands of lives.
Your healthy body makes up the
loss Of blood In six to eight weeks,
and leaves you with no after effects,
except that you 60 through life feel
ing a little prouder of yourself for
having been a participant in the
war effort.
Every one between the ages OF 81
and 60 in sound health is eligible to
make this contribution. No blood is
taken without a preliminary test to
make certain that there is not the
slightest danger to your Well-being
The whole procedure requires less
than an hour, and at the finish you
fee, and you 60 back to your usual
routine with nothing to mark your
effort, except your own satisfaction
with yourself Everything is made
convenient and comfortable at the
Red Gross blood donor centers, and
mobile units also visit nearby COM
munities. You hardly are aware
that you have had more than a
pleasant visit, for in attendance are
doctors, professional nurse and
nurses aides.
Much has been said about the
draft of doctors for the armed
forces. Everywhere throughout the
United States. communities are left
with a scarcity of doctors and
nurses.
One way to relieve this situation
Is to teach women home nursing,
so that fewer of our sick need re-
quire the skill of a registered nurse,
except in a supervisory capacity.
The woman who has had Red Cross
home nursing can do much to save
the doctors time, for she will under
stand and execute his directions
quickly, so that his visit to the pa
tient requires less time or is even
unnecessary.
Courses in Red Cross home nurs-
Ing are given today throughout the
country. The course is of approx
mately "a hours duration 1.-TWO
hours each week. and in most areas
arrangements may be made to at
tend morning, afternoon or evening
classes. These hours fit right into
the daily schedule of the home
maker or the business women. The
course is taught by a professional
nurse authorized by the Red Cross.
Since war began half million
women have had this course. 1t is
service in which the mature person
excels. The instruction which she
receives is useful throughout her
busy life, 1t prepares women for the
emergencies of war on the home
front and is vital part Of our total
war effort.
So important is knowledge OF
home nursing that the Red Cross
feels no handicap should stand In
the way. Glasses for the hard OF
hearing and for those with language
difficulties have been formed. A
special fund of $4,000 has been set
up to finance itinerant instructors
to give instructions in rural areas.
Believing that young people should
share in the responsibility OF the
Nations health, classes have been
organized for teen-aEe girls and
Boy Scouts.
For information as to how you can
become a blood donor or enroll for
home nursing, consult your local
chapter Of the American Red Cross.