Move to beat off rapists

Press, 19 October 1976, Page 1

Move to beat off rapists

A suggestion that a course in self-defence be introduced in the nursing training programme as a preventive measure, was made by Mrs M. McG. Clark at a meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board institutions committee yesterday. Mrs Clark expressed concern about the increasing number of assaults by males on females in the

community generally. Hospitals had a high percentage of female staff who were moving about outside at all hours, she said. Coupled with this was the proposal to direct clinical nursing care beyond the walls of the hospital to the home and work place. The self-defence. course was suggested as a preventive measure for nurses. Mrs Clark said she had

spoken with a police crime prevention officer, who felt such a course was worthy of being introduced into the nursing programme. She understood a basic course of about six lessons in karate would “do the trick.” The cost, time and venue would have to be looked into, but the onus was on the board to look at this rather sad area, said Mrs Clark.

Mr H. T. Dean said he felt the idea had a lot of merit. The medical super-intendent-in-chief (Dr L. McH. Berry) said he had never thought of nurses giving karate chops and he was not sure how practical this was. The committee agreed to recommend to the board that nursing administration be asked to look into this matter.