Self-Defense Course for Healthcare Workers and Police in Macerata to Combat Rising Attacks – Italian Federation Masters to Teach Tactics and Strategies

It is above all nurses, social-health workers, physiotherapists, professional educators, local police workers, three-quarters of whom are women, who are increasingly subjected to attacks – verbal and/or physical – in the public structures in which they work. The self-defense course that the CISL of Macerata has organized, in collaboration with the Cus, for 15 of its members is aimed at them: masters of the Italian Judo, Wrestling, Karate and Martial Arts Federation will transfer their knowledge of tactics, strategies and techniques for defense against aggression and/or attacks, on a physical, psychological and verbal level. “In the Marche region, the first certified Inail data relating to 2023 show an increase in cases. In the area overlapping that of Ast 3 of Macerata compared to around ten cases recorded in 2022, last year there was a real leap , given that 36 were reported: 23 verbal, with threats and insults, 13 with actual acts of physical violence”, underlines Alessandro Moretti, head of the CISL Public Function of Macerata. “A context – he adds – in which it is increasingly difficult for public administration professionals to guarantee not only personal safety, but also that of users, family members and patients. Hence the choice to organize a self-defence internship. Around 10% of injuries occurring to those who work in hospital wards rather than in social services or local police offices are attributable to an assault, compared to an average of 3% in the private sector commit violence. The categories most affected are nurses and health workers, especially women, who represent 3/4 of the injured”. The course will begin the day after tomorrow, but it is not the only initiative aimed at combating the phenomenon. “Together with the workers’ safety representatives – concludes Moretti – the CISL will organize awareness initiatives”. “The course is welcome. It is a useful and beautiful initiative”, comments Sandro Di Tuccio, president of the Order of Nursing Professions of Macerata. “Some time ago a similar course was organized for the operators of the Psychiatry of Tolentino and it proved to be important. In particular, one better understands how to recognize the danger and how to manage it. At the same time one learns how to protect one’s own safety”. “The increase in cases of aggression is significant – concludes Di Tuccio – also because while before it was often allowed to happen, today operators are no longer willing to tolerate these abuses and, therefore, always report what happens”.