Scouting For Girls, Official Handbook of the Girl Scouts Part 84

If there is a public park in or near the town; what privileges does it offer, especially for young people? Is it well taken care of? Well patronized?

Discuss briefly why you think the Government should provide these things and what results may be expected when it does not supply them. How does the lack of them affect the grown people of a town, in the end?

II. Special Health Facilities in your Locality.

1. What is the rule as to registering births? What is the advantage of this? What is the infant mortality rate?

Of what diseases should the local authorities be notified?

What diseases must be quarantined? Isolated?

Posted? Reported?

2. Food Supplies. What are milk stations? Does your community control the marketing of milk to any degree? Why is the milk question so important?

Are there any laws for your bakeries?

What are the regulations as to the storage and protection of meat in local markets?

3. Housing. If three families are willing to live in three rooms in your town, may they do so?

Is there anything to prevent your erecting a building of any size and material you wish in any place?

4. Medical Inst.i.tutions. Is there a public hospital in your town? Who has a right to use it?

Who pays for it?

Is there a public clinic? Why should there be?

Is there a public laboratory? How would it benefit your community if there were?

Is there a district nurse? How could Girl Scouts a.s.sist such a nurse?

5. Schools. Is there any medical inspection in your schools? How did it ever effect you?

Is its work followed up in the home? How are Girl Scouts particularly fitted to help in this?

Is there a school nurse? Why does it pay the community to employ one?

Are luncheons served in your school free, or at low cost? Mention at least two advantages in this and one disadvantage.

Are there school clinics for eyes and teeth? Why are some cities providing such clinics?

6. Baby Hygiene. Is there any place in your town where young or ignorant mothers can ask advice and instruction in the care of infants? State briefly why you think such help would benefit the community in the end.

III. Public Services and Sanitation.

1. Who is responsible for the cleaning of the streets? Dry or wet method used?

2. What are the laws concerning the public collection and disposal of garbage? How much responsibility in this line has your family? Can you do what you please? Is there any practical use for garbage?

3. What is the source of your local water supply?

What measures are taken to make and keep it pure?--State some of the results of lack of care in this matter.

4. Why should there be regulations about spitting in public places? Why are common towels and drinking cups forbidden? What are the general rules for prevention and treatment of tuberculosis?

5. Trace the life history of the house fly or filth fly and tell why it is a menace. How may the fly be exterminated? How are mosquitoes dangerous?

How may they be eliminated?

REFERENCES:

"Democracy in Reconstruction," Frederick A. Cleveland and Joseph Schafer, Houghton Mifflin.

"A Manual for Health Officers," J. Scott Mac.n.u.tt, John Wiley and Sons.

"House of the Good Neighbor," Esther Lovejoy, Macmillan.

"Community Civics," J. Field, Macmillan.

"Town and City," F. G. Jewett, Ginn and Co.

"Good Citizens.h.i.+p," J. Richman, American Book Co.

"Healthy Living," Charles E. Winslow, Merrill Co.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HEALTH WINNER

SYMBOL--THE CADUCEUS IN TREFOIL]

I. To earn this badge a Girl Scout must for three months pay attention to those conditions upon which health depends. She should keep a Health Record like that shown in the Handbook, which must cover at least the following points:

1. Position of body: Show improvement in posture.

2. Exercise (a) Walk a mile briskly or walk steadily and vigorously for fifteen minutes, or take some other active and vigorous outdoor exercise for at least thirty minutes. OR in case of bad weather, (b) Do setting-up exercises as given in Handbook every day. At least twenty minutes should be spent on these, either at one time, or ten minutes night and morning. To make this point will require a record of compliance for at least seventy-five days in three months.

3. Rest. (a) Go to bed early. Be in bed by at least 9:30 and sleep from eight to ten hours. Do not go to parties, the theatre, movies or any other late entertainment on nights before school or work.

4. Supply needs for Air, Water and Food in the right way:

(a) Sleep with window open.

(b) Drink at least six gla.s.ses of water during the day, between meals; taking one before breakfast, two between breakfast and lunch, two between lunch and dinner, and one before going to bed.

(c) Eat no sweets, candy, cake or ice cream except as dessert after meals.

5. Keep Clean:

(a) Have a bowel movement at least once every day, preferably immediately after breakfast or the last thing at night.

(b) Wash hands after going to the toilet, and before eating. Take a daily tub, shower or sponge bath, or rub down with a rough towel every day; and take a full bath of some sort at least twice a week.