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Show . Wiii-afil must carry on! j Your Red Cross , JV K ; ; ) watches over the j. 'Hi Tv j comfort of hos- T"V fyk I pitalizcd veter-l . ' i 'iJ lSjvl ans and service ', ' ir people every- LffD ft'r Vsj where. Help rut lf h its 1916 Fud;, Campnujn over f'f Vj G i veijencrousuj! - SY MT J January Disasters Bring Quick Red Cross Action Destructive fljocls nml tornadoes LeKinninK in early January were grim reminders that more Americans Ameri-cans died in home-front necider.ts and disasters durinjr World War II than as war casualties. By mid-month the siege, brought on unseasonably early by warm weather and heavy rains, had claimed 51 (lend and upwards of 150 hospitalized, records indicate. Thousands of families in rural areas of 11 midwestern and southern south-ern states have been affected. Red Cross chapter workers who last year helped their communities through 200 disasters have again worked 'round the clock. Assisting them have been doctors, nurses, and others rushed by the Red Cross to stricken areas. Surveys for the refurnishing, re-furnishing, rebuilding, and repairing repair-ing of damaged or destroyed homes, barns, and other buildings began immediately. Rehabilitation will be completed in March. Undoubtedly Un-doubtedly new disasters will strike during the spring months and will keep the organization working at top speed in this humanitarian parade pa-rade which never ends. In providing food, clothing, shelter, medical and nursing care, varying problems confront the Red Cross, particularly in rural sections. In flooded Mississippi valley areas, Red Cross has obtained a priority release of house trailers to supplement tents ured in sheltering farmers rescued from flooded areas. When evacuation of farm families and livestock has been necessary, coast guard and navy boats have assisted. Recent coal shortages in disaster areas were relieved when Red Cross action ac-tion resulted in diversion of fuel to critical sections. An hour after surveys have been completed, the Red Cross has obtained ob-tained priority release of lumber and other building materials. Included In-cluded has been screen wire to help prevent the spread of disease in polio and malaria-affected sections. In floods and hurricanes, local Red Cross disaster units, through ! advance weather bureau advisories, have. warned residents in time for safe evacuation; in renute sections, they have effected rescues. In all disasters, tornadoes, fires, floods, hurricanes, train wrecks, they have quickly sought out injured, given first aid, and arranged hospital care. Hundreds of thousands of homeless have been sheltered, clothed, and fed. I In Paterson, New Jersey, a new i chapter disaster chairman success- I fully tackled problems of the worst i flood in that city's history. Two ' days after a Red Cross disaster conference in Montgomery, Alabama, Ala-bama, a tornado ripped through the city. Outstanding care given the injured wrote a bright page in the year's disaster medical history. In states where polio outbreaks occurred, Red Cross chapter volunteers volun-teers hurriedly improvised hospital articles. In Salt Lake City, Disaster Dis-aster Service supplied face masks, children's nightgowns, hospital shirts, surgical gowns for nurses, blankets, and sheets. When flannelette flan-nelette could not be found for hot packs, Red Cross supplied 1,000 diapers for the purpose. But whether disaster or any of many other Red Cross services, all are available to people in rural communities no less than in large cities. Homo nursing, farm accident acci-dent prevention, assistance to families fam-ilies of men in uniform and to veterans vet-erans these services continue year-in, year-out. During March the Red Cross is appealing for $100,000,000. It needs every bit of that amount to meet obligations to the armed forces and civilian population. popu-lation. "We all have a share in the American Red Cross," said Basil O'Connor, Red Cross Chairman, when announcing the appeal. "Let's all maintain that share by contributing con-tributing generously to the 194G Fund Campaign and keep our Red Cross society tho strongest in the world." |