Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania - Record Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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The American Red Cross IBY BERTHA J. WoLD, R. Nj Since war broke out in 1914, and especially since our en- trance into the war, the American National Red Cross has sprung from a verytminor institution to one of tremendous power. We had at the beginning very few members, active or honorary, and now many of all our citizens, and all of our intelligent ones have joined. We have borne our share of the work abroad and with great credit to us as a nation. Practically, at first, the nursing corps composed most of our Red Cross, and in comparison with the number of graduate nurses in the U. S., this number was not large. Since war has been declared, most of our younger nurses have taken their State Board examination as soon. as possible, and have joined the Red Cross at once. So we have today a large number of eflicient women, ready for duty at home or abroad, who are loyal and self-sacrihcing, thinking only of the welfare of others. ' r ' The other departments, into which our Red Cross has been divided, are as follows: T ' l. Dietetics. Z. Transportation. 3. Home Nursing. 4. First Aid. 5. Surgical Dressings. The course in Dietetics has so far not been a very popular one. It seems as if the women, although cooking is one of the most important things in their line, would much rather be nearer the Held of action? than in the kitchen. But per- haps their natural instincts will exert themselves so strongly, some day, that they will Hood. our department of Dietetics. sz

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Then Wally Frank was a surgeon rare, He taught us to dress with the utmost care. In return for his goodness, we would look up his friend And carry his messages, which were quite without end. Harry Willson was a specimen rare From the breezy West, he gave us good care. When he was Chief made us put on high shoes, And dress right warm lest our health we should lose. Steve Simmons from Noth', Carolina blew in, The way he smashed hearts was shuly,' a sing But still he is a friend of the deepest-dyed blue, And itls hard to drop old ones and turn to the new. Doctor Ralph Goldsmith is clever and fine, The care of the nurses is quite in his line. The next remark you will have to let pass, For a certain good reason he is quite fond of our class. Then Dr. Hamilton, where is he now? We will never forget his polit-e little bow. He was good to us all and to his patients, too, I am sure his acquaintance we will never rue. Then came handsome Tom Hale, so polished and sweet He had every female down at his feet. This didn't hurt Thomas, he went his own way, ,And did as he pleased by night and by day. Then arrived Dr. Bates, who is as square as he's round A match to this William is hard to be found. He was jolly and kind and everyon-e's friend, His string of good points are quite without end. 'Twas Dr. McCouch, tho, who honored us most, His love for our class is no empty boast. He showed 'his good taste and picked out Cecile, She inflicted a wound impossible to heal. Friends of our Training where'er you may be, Abroad or at home, on land or on sea, We will never forget you, your memories are green, You are always the friends of the Class of '18. S1

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The department of Transportation has had, and is having, its hands full. With all the millions of things made, such as garments, surgical dressings, etc., they have been a busy people and have accomplished wonders. And we must say to their credit, that with all the hardships and disadvantages under which they have worked, they have been most successful. Through them our supplies have in safety reached the other side. . Home Nursing is a course, of fifteen lessons taught by a Red Cross nurse who has been authorized from Washington, as a teacher. She receives 51545.00 for the said course, which is both practical and theoretical. . At the end of fifteen lessons the class is examined by an examiner, and a certificate sent from Washingto.n. This does not mean that a pupil is a nurse, but it does mean that she may serve as a nurse's aid, if needed. Such service is strictly voluntary. The First Aid Course must be taught by a doctor who has been authorized to do so. He is paid 54.00 a lesson, which also consists of Hfteen lessons to a course. Certificates are also given if this examination hasbeenf passed. At the completion of Home Nursing and First Aid Courses, the members of the classes sometimes take a three months' course in a hospital, which serves to gather up the loose ends, make them more efiicient, and rounds out their course as a nurse's aid. Most important of all these departments is the garment and surgical dressing' department. They are most strict in their way of doing things, and are putting out enormous amounts of work. The instructor in this department need not be a nurse, but she must have had a course in this work. All over the country, in small villages, intermediate towns, and in cities, if you could see at a glance, you would find women working morning, noon and night, knitting, sewing, and making sur- gical dressings. Most of them are busy women, too, who have homes to care for and business toattend to, and still willingly, ss l i