Nurses learn self-defense

Pumping gas, getting groceries or running other errands are everyday occurrences, but these scenarios could easily become the backdrop for danger.

John Knox Village, Lee’s Summit, sponsored a self-defense course in July to teach community members how to protect themselves from the unthinkable.

Jill Leiker, executive director of Take Defense, administers self-defense classes through The Ali Kemp Education Foundation.

Ali Kemp became a casualty of violence at age 19 while working at a neighborhood pool in Leawood, Kan. In the aftermath of Kemp’s murder, her parents created a foundation to provide self-defense training to women.

“We want to be proactive,” Ali’s father, Roger Kemp, said.

About 35,000 women have taken the course since 2004.

“We don’t care what it costs us to put it on,” Leiker said. “If we can save one life it’s worth it.”

The self-defense courses focus on prevention.

“It’s not about the fight,” Leiker said.

Leiker encourages course attendees not to disclose information to strangers. She said people often unintentionally disclose information that can lead predators to them. A Facebook post or cell phone conversation can be read or listened to by predators, Leiker said.

She said women should always think about what they would do if an attacker happens to strike.

“It’s all about being prepared for the situation,” Leiker said. “For some women it’s a real eye-opener.”

John Knox Village Vice President of Human Relations Betty Freeman said John Knox wanted to provide the course for its employees, residents and the community as a whole.

“This is a program that’s well-known in the area,” Freeman said.

About 120 people pre-registered for the course at John Knox Village.

“We are very pleased with that,” Freeman said. “It’s a way for them to take responsibility for their safety.”

“I have an 8-year-old daughter and I can teach this to her,” said Kristin Poppe, PT, rehab supervisor for home health.

Poppe, who attended the self-defense course, said home health employees can face danger not just in patients’ houses but also in the walk from their vehicles to the houses.

“We see a lot of patients out in the general community,” Poppe said.

John Knox Clinical Administrator Debra Spencer, RN, also attended the course. She said several of her home health nurses expressed interest in the training.

“We’ve had some staff concerned about their safety when they do home visits,” Spencer said. “It’s been a while since I’ve done visits and I think things have changed.”

For more information, visit www.takedefense.org.

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