August 10, 2011, Toronto, Canada - In this Self Defense Canada blog, I would like to show a recent story from www.cbc.ca in which a mental health care worker was killed by a severely disabled young man. My reason for bringing this story to your attention is that health care is an industry that carries many potential safety risks. SAFE International has taught personal protection/self defense to both women and men in the health care industry and among their safety concerns are:
- Working by oneself without any backup.
- Very often isolated with clients who may have mental disorders.
- No realistic self defense/personal protection training to handle a violent patient.
- Insufficient training in area of Awareness/Avoidance strategies in regards to on the job duties.
SAFE International addresses these issues!
Judge unseals Saddleback medical report after CBC applies for its release
CBC News Posted: Aug 8, 2011 12:16 AM MT Last Updated: Aug 8, 2011 4:57 AM MT
An Alberta judge has unsealed a medical report that provides details of the crime scene where a mental health worker was killed on the job earlier this year, allegedly by the severely disabled young man she was caring for.
Valerie Wolski, 41, was alone with Terrence Saddleback on Feb. 12 in Camrose when she was strangled.
Saddleback, 26, was charged with manslaughter, but because of his mental disability he was found unfit to stand trial.
CBC News fought for five months to obtain the report that convinced a judge to find Saddleback unfit. Judge William Andreassen has now unsealed that document.
It reveals that Terrence Saddleback has along history of violence against female care workers.
The report also includes details about the crime scene that have until now been under wraps.
A female worker arrived at Saddleback's house just before 9 a.m. on the morning of Feb. 13 to relieve Wolski.
"Upon entering the residence she noticed Mr. Saddleback lying on the living room couch. He said hello to her," the court report states.
The caregiver then noticed her colleague lying on the floor in front of the couch, the document states. She called 911.
"Our officers noted hair on and around Mrs. Wolski in a variety of different locations within the house," Camrose police Insp. Lee Foreman said.
CBC News has learned that Saddleback had a history of pulling women's hair.
The medical examiner believes Wolski was choked during a struggle and died from manual strangulation.
Saddleback remains in secure custody at Alberta Hospital Edmonton.
SAFE International can provide training that addresses all aspects of violence from the Awareness/Avoidance stage, to the Verbal and Physical self defense stages. Please visit www.safeinternational.biz for more info. SAFE International has taught more than 120,000 people since 1994 and is available throughout North America.
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