International Red Cross Conferences

A far-flung network of Red Cross chapters, numbering in 1928 more than 3,500 in the various States and insular possessions, is one of the organization's unique qualifications for disaster service. Most of these chapters maintain their own disaster committees and have at their finger-tips information as to buildings available for hospital use in emergencies, lists of supply sources and similar data. In the event of a disaster the nearest chapter goes imme diately to the aid of the stricken community, wiring national head quarters in Washington or the branch offices in St. Louis and San Francisco what the extent of the damage is and whether national aid will be required. The quick response of the chapters not in frequently means the saving of hundreds of lives and the preven tion of unnecessary suffering.

Outstanding among disasters in which the Red Cross has ad ministered relief have been the northern Ohio tornado of the mid-western tornado of 1925, the Florida hurricane of 1926 and the Mississippi river valley flood of 1927. The greatest foreign disaster in which aid was given by the organization was the Jap anese earthquake and fire which razed Tokyo and Yokohama in 1923. Sufferers in hundreds of other disasters were rehabilitated by the Red Cross.

The

organization's nursing service had an active enrollment in 1933 of 35,750 women, who formed a reserve for the army, navy, public health service, veterans' bureau, and for duty in emergen cies. Of these, 12,173 were listed in the first and 21,107 in the second reserve. Approximately 750 public health nurses were being supported entirely or in part by the Red Cross, working particularly in the crowded sections of large cities and in isolated rural and mountain sections. During the four years, 1929-1933,

the Red Cross has trained an average of 137,163 men, women, and youths each year in life saving methods, thereby reducing drown ing fatalities and reducing also the hazards of water sports. First aid instruction was also given and 66,354 persons granted cer tificates during the year 1932-3. A first aid instruction car is a valuable asset in disseminating information about the care of accident victims and is in continuous operation over the various railway systems of this country. The nutrition service gives in struction in dietetics to thousands.

The American Junior Red Cross, designed to promote a spirit of friendship and understanding among the children of all nations, had in 1933 an enrollment of 6,629,866 members in elementary and high schools throughout the United States and its possessions. This particular movement is world-wide in scope and boasts a total membership of over Io,000,000 in 46 countries.

Volunteer workers for the Red Cross engage in the making of garments, surgical dressings, and braille for the blind, in bringing cheer to ex-service men in the hospitals through their hostess service, maintain motor corps for work in emergencies and furnish personnel for use in chapter offices, for service in disaster relief and similar enterprises. It has been estimated that approximately 90% of the total number of regular Red Cross workers serve as volunteers without compensation. The Red Cross is supported by annual subscriptions from members. These numbered 3,701,866 in 1933—a considerable decline from the figure for 1929. (D. GR.)