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These surprisingly relevant vintage ads show how officials tried to convince people to wear masks after many refused during the 1918 flu pandemic

Yahoo News: “…According to the report, some public health leaders felt that the methods of educating “modern men and boys” at the time were too old-fashioned. So to help persuade members of the male population to do their part in controlling the disease, officials aimed to introduce a “more manly style of health education,” usually by encouraging patriotism and engaging in civic duty. One Oregon newspaper clip reads: “We appeal to your civil patriotism to co-operate with us in our effort to stamp out the Spanish Influenza or “Flu” Plague in Portland by wearing a mask.”.. [Note – h/t to Pete Weiss and please take the time to read this article which includes a number of digital images of the ads that were used in these social awareness campaigns. They are both a wake-up call and a relevant guide to how we can educate ourselves and others right now – we are not otherwise seeing this information in a top down manner – and it is critically important – do not let the vintage content dissuade you from some excellent lessons in public health and well as social norms.]

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