TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention one in three women experience sexual violence involving physical contact at some point in their lives.
The Tallahassee Police Department taught women the skills they need to keep themselves safe.
"I've heard about people who have been sexually assaulted and I'm going to be going to college soon and I just wanted make sure that I'm prepared, so if I am in a situation like that I know what to do," said Tallahassee Resident Kyrah Odum.
Normally around this time of year, high school students like Odum are preparing for the SAT or ACT.
However, Odum along with more than 20 other women from the community went to the TPD Rapid Aggression Response class and learned self-defense maneuvers in order to protect themselves from sexual assault.
"When you get into a situation you never really know how you're gonna respond, you might get scared, you just kinda freeze," said Odum. "Now that we know what to do in that situation you know what you're gonna do."
TPD also taught people ways to identify violent situations so they can prevent them from happening.
"Only 10 percent of sexual assault is actually reported to law enforcement, which is a super low number," said TPD Sergeant Maria Mercurio. "It gives the women the ability to to take a dangerous situation and know they can defend themselves."
TPD will be holding their next Rapid Aggression Defense class next month, for more information click here.
