HISTORY
HEALTH
RED CROSS
by Gail Hussey-Weir
created April 2022
The Red Cross became active in Newfoundland in 1947 and on Bell Island in 1951. Most of the items below, giving some of the history of Red Cross activity on Bell Island in the 1950s, is from the Submarine Miner​,  beginning with a small piece in the issue for November 1954, p. 6.
The item below is from the Submarine Miner​, Mar. 1955, p. 8.
It was reported in the Submarine Miner of July 1956, p. 2, that "The Bell Island Branch of the Red Cross held graduation exercises for the Home Nursing Classes during the month of June. The exercises were held for the first time in historic Lance Cove. Twenty-three graduates in home nursing were presented with diplomas and pins. The Newfoundland Commissioner for Red Cross, David G. Decker, and Nurse Isobelle Sutton, St. John's, were present."
The item below from the Submarine Miner​, July 1956, p. 8, tells the story of how Red Cross training saved a young boy's life.
It was reported in the Submarine Miner of May 1957, p. 2, that "The Bell Island Branch of the Red Cross completed an island-wide collection campaign for funds recently. This year's collection is said to be as successful as in previous years. The Women's Red Cross work group held a meeting in their rooms in the old Surgery Office, Town Square, recently. 

​The item below is from the Submarine Miner​, Jan. 1958, p. 7.
The item below is from the Submarine Miner​, Feb. 1959, p. 8.
Red Cross work continued into the 1960s as it was reported in the Daily News, May 13, 1961, p. 10, that the monthly Red Cross toxoiding clinic for pre-school age children was held at Dr. Templeman's surgery on Wednesday afternoon. The Red Cross clinic was being held the first Wednesday of each month.