-
Flu Hits Utah Military Officers
3 Utahns died of the flu while in military camps in the U.S. and overseas preparing for World War I. One officer died of the flu while in camp in South Carolina, and another was currently stationed in Massachusetts, he also died of the flu.
Was anyone immune to the flu? -
Influenza Claims More Lives in Utah
The Spanish Influenza has claimed 2 more lives in Utah and 63 more people have come down with the flu, according to Salt Lake Health Authorities. A 27 year old from Fairview and a 18 year old male from Henderson, Utah were the two deaths.
Do you think the flu effected those in the city or the rural areas more? -
Movie Production Halted Due to Flu
Movie Studios announce that they will not release new movies from Oct 13 to Nov. 9 due to a large numbers of theaters in the U.S. and Canada closing due to the flu anyway.
Would such a flu keep Americans away from the movies today? In this case, they asked actors and actresses to take a pay freeze and not get paid during this time. How would that go over in Hollywood today? -
Spanish Flu Reaches Cedar City
The flu reached Cedar City after a few residents went to conferences in Salt Lake City, and brought the disease back with them. Following this SLC was labeled a "closed" city, which meant all indoor meetings including churches, schools, theaters, were closed.
Imagine this happening today, how would your daily life be changed? -
Spitting Outlawed in SLC
Police pass an ordinance in SLC that spitting on sidewalks, streets, and street cars is prohibited. Anyone caught was charged $1.
Didn't they know that spitting in public places is pretty gross anyway? -
Coughers to be Banned from the Streets
Coughers and Sneezers are not going to be allowed on the streets of SLC if the flu persists. The Boy Scouts are also handing out 20,000 pamphlets on how to fight against the flu.
Was this too extreme of a measure? -
Red Cross uses Masks to Evaluate those with the Flu
Masks like these, made of gauze, were used as the Red Cross treated patients with the flu. -
Teachers Used as Nurses
Many families found themselves with every member of the family confined to bed due to the disease, so no one could serve or prepare food. In Salt Lake County they used Home Economics classes to prepare meals and have teachers and students deliver the meals to these families.
The student volunteered to deliver the food, would you volunteer? Why or why not? -
Wards Meetings Cancelled
The Wards in the Weber Stake cancelled meetings for fear of spreading the flu further.
Have Ward meetings ever been cancelled in your lifetime that you can remember? What does that tell you about the Spanish Influenza? -
No Kissing at Weddings
Brides and Grooms are ordered to wear masks during wedding ceremonies and there is no "kissing the bride". Weddings were frowned upon during this quarantine.
Would you get married during the quarantine, or would you wait? -
20,000 Have the Flu in Utah
The count of those effected has risen to over 20,000 in the state, with 68 new cases reported. The number increases about every other day, due to the fact that it takes about 48 hours for the flu to set in.
20,000 people is about 2/3 of the population of our town, American Fork. So how many of us would be infected? -
Those Sick Must Wear a Mask
The Utah State Board of Health made it mandatory that you wear a mask if you had the Spanish Flu. Because the Red Cross didn't have enough to give out, they gave instructions on how to make your own mask at home out of gauze. They were to be boiled every 24 hours and soaked with an Anti-Septic.
How would you feel if the government told you to make a mask and home and that was expected to safe your life? Would you feel safe? -
Spanish Flu Winding Down
Many Red Cross hospitals across the state are going to begin closing due to lack of patients. Most areas are reporting decreases in the amount of cases being reported.
What do you think caused the rapid decline of the flu? -
Provo passes "Flu Ordinances"
Provo was slow to see the flu subside. It was a $50 dollar fine or 30 days in prison if you were seen outside without a flu mask after these ordinance were passed. All public gatherings and businesses like soda fountains and ice cream parlors were ordered closed as well.
Was the government infringing on people's rights by ordering them to wear masks? -
Doctor's Prescribe Alcohol
Patients who were infected could be prescribed free liquor by their doctor in an effort to kill the flu. Many people who were not infected also tried to get a prescriptions for alcohol but were turned away. The doctor's did not have enough bottles though, so you have to bring your own to get it filled.
If something like alcohol could cure you from a disease, even though it may go against your religion, would you drink it? -
The Flu Ends in Utah
By April of 1919, the flu had pretty much ended in Utah. But Utah had the second highest death rate in the Union with over 2,343 people dying from the disease.
What long term effect do you think this had on the state of Utah?
