Everyone knows the three R’s of school – reading, writing and ’rithmatic – but how many of us know the three P’s of not becoming a victim?Last Monday and Tuesday night, Assistant Police Chief Bill Wineman taught those P’s – planning, prevention and practice – to a group of 24 women gathered at the Jacksonville Community Center.
Telling them to play the “what-if” game, Wineman took them through the process of being prepared just in case something happens.
And part of being prepared is acknowledging that, if you are assaulted, you will be hurt.
“You are going to be uncomfortable and you are probably going to be hurt. If somebody attacks you, you have to understand if I pull out a knife, I pull out a gun, I come and grab you, it is not going to be a pleasant experience,” said Wineman. “Understand you are going to get cut. Understand you are going to get hurt. Understand you can live through that.”
In the part of the course held on July 21, the ladies, some of whom were barely in their teens, gained the knowledge needed to be aware of their surroundings – 84 percent of all sexual assaults are committed by an acquaintance, 38 percent of acquaintance rape victims are between the ages of 14 and 17.
They discussed date rape drugs, learning not only how quickly they can be administered, but also how quickly they can take effect.
They learned, from someone who has seen it all in his time in law enforcement, we live in a dangerous world.
“No means no and you shouldn’t worry about how you’re dressed. Now let’s go to real life. Sometimes you have to worry about how you’re dressed. When you go out, when you go to the bars,” said Wineman as he told of women he had seen go into bars in town wearing next to nothing. “You have to understand, I’m not saying don’t dress like that, don’t get me wrong. I’m just saying you have to be careful what you wear because that will invite these predators.”
Wineman’s top tips were simple – if you are in any way concerned about your safety don’t be brave, ask for help; be aware of what is happening around you at all times; don’t leave anything where it can easily be grabbed and don’t keep your most valuable things and information in your purse.
“In a robbery, they’re going to want a wallet,” said Wineman as he showed the group how to create a dummy wallet without personal info or credit cards in it. He recommended hanging your important cards and info around your neck under your clothes.
According to Wineman, everyone should have a safety plan in place for every situation. What if you work late one night, do you have someone to walk you to your car? Are the lights in your house on when you get home late? Do you have a neighbor you can trust in an emergency?
Wineman’s tactics for getting away from an attacker are easy steps anyone can learn to do, regardless of their size. When most people imagine self-defense classes, they think of karate lessons where you learn to flip your attacker, but these are simple moves using weak spots on the attackers body to just get away.
The women learned to hit pressure point areas, to use their wits and stay calm while finding a way out and away from the person attacking them. Hitting their neck, bending fingers and thumbs until the attacker lets go, kicking and stomping were all methods of counter attack – simple things that can be done no matter how much larger the attacker is or how stressed you are.
“Imagine coming out of the mall or coming out of the store and you’re having to go [searches through keys] and your adrenaline is now spiking because this guy is behind you and you’re trying to get in your car. You’re trying to put small little keys in small little holes and you’re adrenaline is now getting up high,” said Wineman as an example of how stressful situations make it difficult to do anything requiring a degree of concentration.
Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Supervisor Janis Burns, who organized the class, is already planning the next self-defense class.
“What I wanted to get out of it was Branna being able to learn to protect herself somewhat,” said Burns of her teenage daughter who also participated in the class. “I personally learned a lot and it is very easy. The stuff that you think would be very hard, I can’t do it, it’s not, it’s actually very simple techniques if you’ll just not panic and do them.”
She has been asked by several people to do an identity theft course and is planning to hold that in late fall. Burns hopes to educate the citizens of Jacksonville through the courses she is lining up. On August 21 there will be a free basic car care class for women and the department is already planning a coach’s clinic for the soccer coaches.
The department is always open to new class ideas. For a list of current courses being offered drop by the community center or call 435-8115.
