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Show VICTIMS OF EPIDEMIC, FIRE AND FLOOD RECEIVE RED CROSS HOME SERVICE AID It is not only on tho battlefield and behind the lines that the American Red Cross brings its message of help to the afflicted. There is always an immediate response to any national disaster. In time of flood, fire or epidemic epi-demic the Department of Civilian Relief Re-lief Is ready to serve. Wherever local chapters cannot care for their own local needs, the assistance of the national na-tional organization is at hand. Special trains carrying doctors, nurses and supplies have been sent to the scene of disaster on the first call for help. Only those communities which have experienced this mothering of. the Red Cross in time of need can appreciate the great work being done in civilian relief. Tho forest fires which recently swept across northeast Minnesota wiped out dozens of towns, burned more than a thousand people to death, reduced whole forests to ashes and caused a property loss of tons of millions mil-lions of dollars. Duluth, squarely In the path of disaster, dis-aster, was saved only by a shift of the wind. This was providential, as that city immediately became the center for Red Cross relief work. The armory, ar-mory, courthouse and churches were opened to receive the refugees and automobiles au-tomobiles were commandeered to bring In the panic -stricken people fleeing from the flames The Red Cross at Superior, across the line in Wisconsin, Wiscon-sin, telephoned by an endless chain method to the owners of automobiles to care for all those arriving at tho railroad stations. For trains under full steam were bringing endless streams of them out of the burning region. In both places Red Cross canteens served hot meals. The First Aid workers had physicians and nurses at command and large sums were subscribed sub-scribed for immediate relief work. Many arrived terribly injured and were rushed in automobiles and ambulances am-bulances to nearby hospitals to receive re-ceive Red Cross aid. The ravages of influenza throughout the country is another case In point where the Red Cross has put money and personal service at the disposal of afflicted localities. National Headquarters Head-quarters immediately asked the entire membership to join in fighting this plague. Tho War Council made an Immediate appropriation of $575,000 to be put at the disposition of division managers. These co-operated with the local Red Cross personnel to put doctors and nurses and supplies at tho disposal of the needy. But It was far more than a money gift. There was the human touch of personal service. The chapters organized organ-ized volunteers to go into the homes of stricken families and help in every possible way. When trained nurses were impossible to get, these women nursed the sick, If the mother and homemakcr were stricken they took over the management of tho house as they would do for friend or neighbor. They prepared the meals, washed the children's faces and put the house in order. No work was too menial nor too exacting when the need was urgent ur-gent In many instances food was prepared pre-pared in some central place and carried car-ried In containers and thermos bottles to tho sick. In temporary hospitals canteens were opened by Red Cross workers to feed the nurses and assistants. assist-ants. At the nation's capital, where the unusual congestion of war workers made conditions very difficult, the work of the District Red Cross will long be remembered. |
