awareness

Predicting & Dealing w/ Violence

When they think about maintaining their safety on the job, Emergency Medical Personnel, EMTs, Paramedics, nurses & social workers always want to know: Is it possible to predict who will be violent? What can I do to prevent a situation from becoming violent? And what should I do to protect myself if someone strikes out at me?

Predicting Violence

Are there factors common to those who commit violent acts? In fact, there are. Research has identified certain traits and factors that make people more inclined to violence:

Prior Violence. Each time someone commits a violent act, it is more probable that violence will happen again. Since this is the single best predictor of violence, it is a good idea to ask questions about past or current violent behavior during your initial contact with a child or family member. Specifically, you want to know about a person’s most violent act, and how often he or she has violent thoughts.

Certain Feelings. Several internal factors have been associated with aggressive encounters. These include fear, humiliation, boredom, grief, and a sense of powerlessness. To reduce risk, avoid putting clients in positions that embarrass them. Rather, give them knowledge that empowers them and help them see other, nonviolent options.

Physical Factors. Physical factors increase the risk of violence as well. These include lack of sleep, physical exhaustion, use of drugs or alcohol, brain trauma, heat, hunger, cold, physical disability, or chronic pain.

Situational Factors. Situational factors are also predictive of violence. Access to weapons, experiencing childhood abuse or aggression in the home, or feeling a sense of injustice or oppression can lead to violence.

Forced Removal. There is growing evidence that demonstrates that violence is more likely when children or adults are taken from their living situations, especially if they are removed in front of family or friends. Therefore, removals should always be planned events. Never conduct one alone.

What to Look for

Even if you do not have any information about a person’s past history or current emotional state, there are signs you can look for. Observe the person’s body: is she pacing or fidgeting? Clenching her fists or jaws? Does she have a “wild” look in her eyes? Is she out of touch with reality? Is she speaking in a loud voice or becoming verbally abusive? If you see these behaviors, take immediate steps to reduce the tension before it escalates.

Reducing Tension

You are on a home visit, and Mom’s boyfriend comes home. He glares at you and paces around the room. When you explain who you are and why are visiting, he yells at you. He begins cursing and gesturing, but stays away from you. What do you do?

Unfortunately, there is no “right” answer, no technique that will work in every situation. Ideally, though, you want to help the angry person “come down” from his or her anger.

The main rule (and it’s easier said than done) is to remain calm. A calm tone, demeanor, and presence transfers to others. Speak in a clear and direct manner, so the person can hear what you are saying through the anger.

It is not a good idea, however, to tell the client to “calm down.” By saying this, you communicate that you do not understand—if you did, you would understand why he or she is so upset. Instead, be empathetic. Talk about the frustration or problem that has come up. Reflect feelings and behaviors such as “you seem angry.” Take responsibility for your mistakes.

It may be easier to remain calm if you remember this isn’t personal—the person is angry at the situation, not you. Defensiveness on your part validates the angry person, increasing the tension (Horejsi & Garthwait, 1997).

Reinforce your calm tone with nonthreatening, non-confrontational body language. Move slowly. Avoid putting your hands on your hips. Position yourself to the side of the person, so you are not squarely facing them. Avoid extensive eye contact and physical closeness. Do not touch an angry person. Do not stand between the person and the door.

You can also use different strategies to help an angry person calm down. One method is to offer the person choices, such as talking later or agreeing on a cooling off period. Allow the person to save face—give him or her a way out.

Attempting to distract or change the subject can sometimes work, but be careful, as this may further anger people if they realize you are diverting them. Don’t use humor—in the haze of anger, it is too easily misinterpreted.

Even if the person seems to be calming down, be patient—it takes a person about 30 to 40 minutes to calm down from anger physiologically (Griffin et al., 1995). If you have done what you can and things still seem to be escalating, leave the situation and/or get help.

If Aggression Occurs

The angry boyfriend doesn’t calm down. Suddenly he comes at you, his hands outstretched. What do you do?

Anger and aggression cannot always be contained. If a person attempts to assault you, protect yourself. Your first step should always be to leave the room and get away from the situation. If you cannot leave, call for help and:

Protect yourself from head injuries. Block blows with pillows, arms, clipboard, etc.
If you fall, block the attack with your feet and legs.
If your arm is grabbed, break the hold by twisting quickly toward the person’s thumb.
If you are choked, raise both arms straight up and quickly turn around. Your arms and shoulders will break the hold.
If you are bitten, push into the bite, don’t pull away.
If your hair is pulled, press down on the person’s hand with both of yours.
Weapon: Never reach for the weapon. Encourage the person to talk. Focus on the person, and keep your distancem (Flick, 1996; Griffin, 1997).

Implications

Safety is essential to your success—you can’t help a family through a crisis if you are afraid for your own well-being. Therefore it is crucial to know how to identify potentially dangerous individuals and what to do when you encounter them. By maintaining your awareness and being proactive, you improve your ability to do your job, as well as stay safe.

Sources

Brady, E. (1993). Coping with violent behavior: A handbook for social work staff. Harlow, United Kingdom: Longman Group.

Brown, R., Bute, S., & Ford, P. (1986). Social workers at risk: The prevention and management of violence. London: British Association of Social Workers.

Dernocoeur, K. (1993, July). Tips on defusing a violent situation. JEMS, 78-79.

Flick, J. (1996). Defusing potentially violent situations: Keeping yourself and others safe. Unpublished. Presented at social worker safety training.

Fraser, M. (1995). Violence overview. In R. Edwards (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Social Work. Washington, DC: NASW Press, 2453-2460.

Horejsi, C. & Garthwait, C. (1997). Be careful out there: CPS worker safety in rural areas. Protecting Children, 13(1), 12-14.

Griffin, W., Montsinger, J., & Carter, N. (1997). Resource guide for administrators and other personnel. Durham, NC: ILR, Inc.

Hughes, D. (1994). Assessment of the potential for violence. Psychiatric Annals, 24(11), 579-583.

Murdach, A. (1993). Practice forum: Working with potentially assaultive clients. Health and Social Work, 18(4), 307-312.

Nadwairski, J. A. (1994). Inner city safety for home care providers. Journal of Safe Management of Disruptive and Assaultive Behavior, 2, 4-6.

Star, B. (1984). Patient violence/therapist safety. Social Work, May/June, 225-230.

Source: UNC Training – Childrens Services Practical Notes

Adapted & re-published by: Dave Heuthe, American Kobe Jiu Jitsu Federation Black Belt & Certified Instructor. Dave provides group personal defense classes where lessons are taught in various locations, privately, at Bob Malvagno’s School of Self Defense, and through in-house work programs (e.g. -Fire Department, employer, churches & synagogues, community centers, etc.) in the Nassau County and Sufflok County, Long Island (LI), NY area. Dave’s business is to provide programs that help his students (adults, seniors, teens & children) master self defense. BECOME A CLASS MEMBER TODAY!

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USE THE 5 D’s TO CREATE A FRAMEWORK

Mar 26th, 2009

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More Grasshopper Rules of Self Defense

Using the framework of the 5 D’s allows the “sound bites” to be ordered in a manner that creates understanding. All tips, techniques, tactics, and strategies of self-defense can be organized and catagorized in this manner.

DECIDE
Never be taken to a secondary location
Carry a mobile phone
Take a self-defense class
Never give up

DETER
Be aware of your surroundings
Be assertive
Use your intuition
Walk in groups at night.

DISRUPT
Kick to the groin
Use anything available as a weapon
Fight with everything you have
Stomp on the instep
Gouge the attacker’s eyes
Yell as loud as you can

DISENGAGE
Escape at the first opportunity
Get away as fast as you can
Never corner the attacker
Have an exit strategy

DEBRIEF
Don’t take a shower
Talk to someone you trust
Write down what happened
Get medical attention

Source: Making Sense of Self Defense

Re-published by: Dave Heuthe, American Kobe Jiu Jitsu Federation Black Belt & Certified Instructor. Dave provides group personal defense classes where lessons are taught in various locations, privately, at Bob Malvagno’s School of Self Defense, and through in-house work programs (e.g. -Fire Department, employer, churches & synagogues, community centers, etc.) in the Nassau County and Sufflok County, Long Island (LI), NY area. Dave’s business is to provide programs that help his students (adults, seniors, teens & children) master self defense. BECOME A CLASS MEMBER TODAY!

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Awareness: Our 1st and best defense

Mar 12th, 2009

by admin.

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Self Defense Awareness

By Dave Heuthe

When we think about self defense we tend to think about physical techniques. We picture in our mind what we might do if someone grabbed or choked us. What if you’re walking down a dark street? Well, why are you walking down a dark street? Do you feel safe there? Feel safe? What does that matter? Most people don’t think it matters, but it does.

We live in a dangerous world and what makes it more dangerous is that most people are blissfully unaware of it. If ignorance is bliss you would think you’d see more happy people. All kidding aside the best way of being safe in a dangerous situation is to avoid being there. Wouldn’t it be great if someone could tell us we’re walking into danger before you get there? Like when you’re watching a horror flick and the victim is about to go in the basement. You know what’s down there but they don’t. So you yell “DON’T GO IN THERE”. But they don’t listen, they never listen. They walk right into DANGER. Wouldn’t be great to have a voice to warn you? YOU would listen. Well you DO have a voice and YOU DON’T LISTEN!

We do have a voice to warn us. We call it our gut, a funny feeling, the hair standing up on the back of your neck. What is that, intuition, a sixth sense? No.

We as human beings can only focus on one thing at a time. When we are walking down the street, thinking about something, looking at something that’s what we are focused on. The rest of our senses, however, are still active. They are receiving input from our surroundings but because we’re focused on something else we ignore them. Well, where does the information go? Do we forget it?

Studies have proven that we never forget anything. The information goes into our subconscious. Once there it can trigger a memory and cause the same feeling we had at the original event. It’s not about memory it’s about recall. We can look at our brain like a computer. There is lots of information but if you don’t have the file name you can’t get to it. When we pick up something or someone out of the corner of our eye, smell something odd, hear something strange, our brain accesses the file that causes the feeling of danger.

So what do we do? We listen to the voice within us. The next time you have that funny feeling, don’t ignore it! Look around check out your surroundings. If there is someone there they no longer have the element of surprise. If there’s no one there good, you’re safe and that’s the goal GO HOME SAFE.

Published by: Dave Heuthe, American Kobe Jiu Jitsu Federation Black Belt & Certified Instructor. Dave provides group personal defense classes where lessons are taught in various locations, privately, at Bob Malvagno’s School of Self Defense, and through in-house work programs (e.g. -Fire Department, employer, churches & synagogues, community centers, etc.) in the Nassau County and Sufflok County, Long Island (LI), NY area. Dave’s business is to provide programs that help his students (adults, seniors, teens & children) master self defense. BECOME A CLASS MEMBER TODAY!

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