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47
In October, the Home Safety Officer, with members of the
Fire Service, initiated the winter programme by giving sessions
in the Centres on "Fireguards and Fabrics". Although their
presentation was more elaborate than has been suggested, because
a display and two ten-minute films were used and put on for the
Centres' staff, it was possible to prove that:-
(a) The mothers were interested in such a programme.
(b) Good advertising and encouragement from the health visitors
stimulated their interest.
(c) Nearly all the mothers would remain for half an hour.
(d) Cups of tea and reasonable control of toddlers could almost
always be organised.
Well established work in two Infant Welfare Centres is described
in more detail on pages 36-37 , and it is hoped that the
other Centres will follow their example next year.
Poliomyelitis campaign.
In April help was given in publicising the Poliomyelitis
Campaign for the 15-25 year olds. This was concentrated at very
short notice while the subject was topical, following the unfortunate
death of an international footballer. We were grateful
for publicity material given to us by a British firm of
poliomyelitis vaccine manufacturers and made full use of it.
Posters were displayed all over the town, thousands of wage
packet slips were issued to factory and other employees, gramaphone
records containing a few bars of popular music followed by
a strong reminder to take action were given to youth clubs and
all the local dance halls and included in their programmes, a
booth decorated with poliomyelitis material was on display in
the busy High Street, dustcarts and cars displayed suitable
posters and stickers. Much other propaganda was carried out by
general practitioners and all members of the public health staff
The Crystal Palace Football team helped us by allowing the press
to take photographs while they were being vaccinated and finally
the full co-operation of the local press did much to help the
campaign. Of the age group, 13,059 or 58% received two injections
and 54% were given a third injection. How much our own
campaign had any influence on these numbers was difficult to
assess, because there was high pressure publicity from the
national press, radio and television services at this time.