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The start of World War I marked the beginning of a shortage of nurses in Dallas. When a wave of the Spanish flu arrived in late 1918, many medical personnel had left the city to serve with the armed forces. Dallas was unprepared.
This nursing shortage persisted after the war and continued into World War II. The Dallas Morning News reported on this issue and an American Red Cross program that trained women to fill the need. This became “the greatest mass training in first aid in Dallas history.”
World War I
During the first world war, home front activities included collecting donations and assembling supplies for American troops overseas. The Texas State Council of Defense published advertisements asking, “What are you doing to make your city a healthier and a better place to live in?” The council gave advice on hygiene and preventive measures. However, a unified effort to address the nurse shortage did not exist when the second wave of the Spanish flu arrived.
In December 1918, The News reported that almost 500 residents had died from the flu and related issues that fall. These deaths prompted the city and area organizations to reconsider their approach to medical care during crises.
Between wars
After World War I ended and Spanish flu cases decreased, there were still concerns regarding medical care. A 1919 advertisement stressed the urgency of erecting a hospital building because of room and care shortages. Later that year, the Welfare Council of Dallas asked for donations to support charities like one providing infant medical care.
In 1932, Dallas hosted the annual Dallas Southern Clinical Society conference and The News printed advertisements from hospitals, medical associations and nursing programs. In 1940, a year before the U.S. joined the second world war, the Dallas Red Cross chapter hosted a rally featuring discussions on nursing.
Despite these efforts, the nurse shortage continued but this time the city was proactive.
World War II
In 1941, the U.S. officially entered World War II and nurses began leaving as they had 25 years before. In response, The News reminded readers that “It’s Your War” and the Red Cross medical training campaign began. Graduate Red Cross nurses taught free home nursing, nurse’s aide and basic first aid classes to local women.
Promoting and hosting the classes was a joint effort. Social clubs like the Union Bower Home Demonstration Club and Daughters of the American Revolution Auxiliary supported the program through presentations and class sponsorships. The YWCA, hospitals, businesses and the Dallas County Medical Society encouraged participation.
Schools became hubs of war support initiatives. Similar to the previous war, students raised funds, gathered donations and created supplies to send overseas. In January 1942, many teachers returned to work trained in first aid and ready to institute precautions against air raids and sabotage.
While nurse’s aides assisted in hospitals, home nurses were to act as the first level of triage, reserving hospital beds for the most serious cases. The women were also to assist in the event of an attack or hospital evacuations. The classes also taught steps to handle accidents such as treating poisoning victims. A January 1942 article began: “War today is a blight even upon the noncombatant nations. But the great American tragedy continues to be death and injury by accident.”
In its history of World War II, the Red Cross recorded more than 7.5 million volunteers in 1945. In Dallas, by July 1942, about 70,000 adults and children were involved. Home nursing graduates made up 2,837 of the volunteers, while 300 nurse’s aides were being trained to replace those who had left for military duty. Over 20,000 Dallas-area adults and children had completed first aid courses.
Tuberculosis in Dallas
In the midst of the second world war, The News reported that Dallas’ rate of tuberculosis was higher than the national average. Woodlawn Hospital had a bed shortage, leaving two-thirds of prospective tuberculosis patients without help. The high number of patients was linked to poor living conditions and malnutrition. These cases were frequently identified too late for the victims who were often food handlers and factory workers.
A coordinated approach among city committees, schools and the Dallas Tuberculosis Association aimed to promote early identification, better housing options and education. These efforts went hand-in-hand with the Red Cross programs.
Training continues
Community medical training did not end with the second world war. Since then, the organizations have continued offering health care training to the public.
In 1947, tuberculosis was still a concern. That August, an article reported only 55 public health nurses in Dallas County when 220 were needed to meet demand. Home nursing was mentioned as a means to alleviate this scarcity.
In 1966, the local Red Cross chapter sought volunteers to teach first aid classes and mother and baby care. Volunteers provided food to displaced individuals and collected donations for soldiers during the Vietnam War.
In 1978, Red Cross volunteers set up a scene complete with a car crash victim. They provided aid to the “victim” while trainees observed. The News reported that passersby believed the graphic scene was real.
Since the 1970s, the Red Cross has continued offering courses to North Texans, including first aid, child care and babysitting, nurse assistant, CPR and lifeguarding. None, however, are under the “home nursing” label.
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