Expert teaches women safety moves, prevention

Expert teaches women safety moves, prevention

KATELYN MOCKRY Contributing Writer

BEEKMANTOWN - Being a victim of sexual assault is something every woman tries to avoid. However, it is a harsh reality that has affected many women across the country. According to Paul Danylewich, a women's safety expert from Montreal and author of "Fearless: The Complete Personal Safety Guide for Women," about 80 percent of women in the United States have been or will be affected by some type of sexual aggression. Danylewich, who has appeared on NBC's "The John Walsh Show" and "Dateline," is on a mission to educate women on how to be prepared. He addressed junior and senior female students at Beekmantown High School Friday about the necessary measures to take if attacked and how to prevent an assault from happening. "A lot of people think that it can never happen to them, but unfortunately it can happen to anyone," he said.

Developing a plan was the theme of Danylewich's presentation. "Most victims of sexual assault admit that they felt uncomfortable in the situation, but didn't do anything about it," Danylewich said. "You need to develop a plan so that you can be prepared." He stressed the importance of clear communication such as saying, "Leave me alone!. He also told the students that there is more to protecting themselves than just saying those words. "How we communicate is based not only on what we say but also on our body language, tone of voice and facial expression." Julie Burns, a Beekmantown High School junior, found the presentation to be very informative. "It definitely was a good thing to show. Girls need to be aware of what to do," she said. Burns volunteered to take part in demonstrations in which Danylewich taught several defensive moves to use in potentially life-threatening situations. "If your instincts tell you something, it's important to react." Danylewich said. "But you have to know how to react." Beekmantown High School Librarian Rebecca Banker helped coordinate Danylewich's visit to the school. "It's very important for these girls to get this knowledge," said Banker. "It makes them aware of the danger." " We don't get this education anywhere else and girls don't know what to do," said Burns. New York State Trooper and School Resource Officer Bernie Bullis also attended the event. "For some reason these things aren't taught in schools and it really should be," said Bullis. "I think it's the dynamics of our culture that causes assaults on young women."

According to Danylewich, females ages 16 to 24 are three times more likely to get assaulted than any other age group. "Most of the time these attacks are by someone the victim knows well - and often the victim never reports the crime," Danylewich said. Bullis believes that this knowledge is essential for the teenagers as they possibly move to more metropolitan areas in the future. "This is where they are now," he said. "They could end up in bigger, more unsafe areas where this information is even more vital." Banker hopes that the girls took something valuable away from the presentation. "What they now know could prevent something later," she said. "Information is power."