“Several women who are anxious to do their
part in combatting the ravages of the ‘flu’ applied last evening at the
headquarters of the volunteer emergency health auxiliary welcomed by the
workers there.”
Hamilton Spectator. October 26, 1918.
The 1918 Spanish influenza
had reached such a level of impact in Hamilton during the latter part of
October 1918 that a desperate effort was made to encourage volunteers to assist
the overwhelmed staff of the hospitals
and swell the numbers of the at-home visiting contingent of the Sisters of
Service.
When it came to addressing
the need for more volunteer nurses and to assist in coordinating the response
from those who did volunteer, the Hamilton Young Women’s Christian Association
get involved, particularly in terms of giving space for the workers at the
downtown YMCA headquarters on Main street. :
“The call for nurses is an
exceedingly urgent one, and many more sisters of service are needed. There is
now open to women an opportunity such as they never have had before to render
their city a service that will be instrumental in stamping out an epidemic that
is the most virulent of any that has attacked Hamilton for many years, and a
prompt response from healthy women, willing to give their time and help in
assisting the health authorities and the physicians, will result in the saving
of lives, and the stamping out of the deadly Spanish Influenza.”1
1“Need
of Nurses Is Most Urgent : Very Rev. Dean Owen Impressed With Situation :
Several Women Offered Services Last Evening”
Hamilton Spectator. October 26, 1918.
On October 25, 1918, the
YMCA building was visited by a Spectator reporter, and the dean of Christ
Church Cathedral:
“Very Rev. Dean Owen was one
of the public-spirited citizens who was helping at the headquarters last
evening, and was deeply impressed with the critical necessity of getting help
for the sufferers. As his work was answering the telephone, he received many
pathetic appeals, and heard several heart-rending tales.
“ ‘The need for nurses is
more pressing than I think the general public yet realizes,’ said the dean.
‘Nurses, nurses, and again more nurses, is the need of the hour. A number
applied and were accepted tonight, but if the women of Hamilton, who are noted
for their hearty response to calls for service, really knew the situation in
many a home today, the ranks of the sisters of service would be swelled to a
small army of mercy.’1
The scene at the Hamilton
YMCA room where Dean Owen and the reporter visited was extremely busy, but
despite that, was also very organized and focused :
“A large number of calls
were sent in last evening to the Y.W.C.A. for volunteer help, many families
being absolutely desperate. What with the lack of domestic help, full hospitals
and the discouraging shortage of trained nurses, unless the women of the city
take it in hand, bids fair to become very serious.
“One sad case was taken care
of by sending the ambulance to take to the hospital a mother, who was stricken
with the disease, and raving in delirium, alone in the house with two small and
uncared-for children.
“Instances of unfortunate
sufferers might be related by the dozen; but it is sufficient to state that
those in touch with the situation are appealing for help. There are many women
who, with the training they will receive at the daily lectures by physicians
and the daily demonstrations by a competent trained nurse, would be prepared to
look after cases where no other is available.
“Help at the headquarters
may be needed, and, ultimately, money; but at the present time, it is nurses
that are the main need.
“This is work that must be
done at once. Let it not be said to their shame that the women of Hamilton
failed to answer the call to service in the time of their city’s great need.”1
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