RED CROSS AND SCHOOLS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1929, Page 15

RED CROSS AND SCHOOLS

PREVENTION BETTER THAN CURE.

An appeal for the wider extension of F:.Cross activities in Taranaki was made by Dr. R. J. Mecredy to the New Plymouth branch of the society on Wednesday night. Prevention rather than cure was the motto of the times, and it was with this end in view that the Department of Education wished to introduce the society into the schools. A plan .had been formulated by the department whereby the New Plymouth and Hawera schools would be chosen for experimental purposes. It was proposed that the Red Cross nurse should visit the schools and organise lectures. The department in this way wished to maintain a close connection with the society. He himself would like all to be apostles of health in the community. He hoped that in the future nurses would be able to undertake more work in country districts so that in the end the school would be the centre in each community. The country residents seemed anxious for these classes.

The value of proficiency in home nursing and first-aid was apparent to all. There was urgent need for organisation in the event of an epidemic, such as that which had been ravaging Great Britain during the winter. It°was quite possible that something similar might occur in New Zealand in the coming winter, and to be prepared he desired to draw up a roll of those proficient in home nursing who might be called upon to assist.