Workshops to learn self-defense and lifesaving skills on International Women’s Day

This Sunday, March 8, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., on the occasion of International Women’s Rights Day, a workshop combining self-defense and first aid techniques brought together participants and health and sports professionals at the gymnasium of Estienne d’Orves secondary school. An initiative aimed at strengthening confidence, autonomy and solidarity among women.

“Attention, I’m going to shock… I’m shocking.” In the center of the gymnasium, a training dummy simulates cardiac arrest. Around it, several participants observe and reproduce the gestures under the careful eye of Gérald, 56, an emergency nurse. Checking breathing, alerting emergency services, performing cardiac massage: the basics of first aid are repeated until they become almost instinctive.

For the health professional, transmitting these gestures to the general public is essential. “Spreading first aid techniques is absolutely necessary. Every second counts. The faster the intervention, the greater the chances of saving a victim. And March 8 is also an opportunity to remind ourselves that women must have every chance when facing these situations.”

Four hands on the dummy, Chaïma, 34, came with her daughter Assia, 10 and a half. A deliberately family-oriented approach. “I wanted to come with her so she could discover these gestures and understand the importance of this day. I even told her: you’re coming with me because I want to be accompanied… and by you specifically.”

Health and Sport at the heart of March 8

Present at the event, emergency physician and city council member Hervé Caël, 65, emphasizes the importance of addressing health issues on this day dedicated to women’s rights. “Today, several subjects intersect. There is self-defense, important for physical protection, but also training in emergency techniques, particularly in response to cardiovascular arrest. Contrary to what was once believed, women are no longer spared: they now experience as many cardiac arrests as men, particularly due to smoking.” According to him, combining sport and health makes it possible to address women’s rights in all their dimensions. “This operation appealed to us because it mixes different aspects: physical defense with self-defense workshops, but also an essential health component.”

At the origin of the initiative, Michel, 60, director of the Essor Riviera Karaté club, explains that the operation has been organized every year for five years. “The objective is to bring as many people as possible together around the club. We offered an introduction to self-defense with different instructors – Krav Maga, pencak, women’s boxing – followed by a session dedicated to first aid techniques.” A deliberate choice to vary learning. “Rather than three hours of self-defense, we preferred to offer several complementary workshops. Gérald often works with our young people during training sessions, so it was natural to involve him in this day. At the end, each participant receives a diploma and a rose, a symbol of femininity and recognition.”

Among the sports professionals present, Maryanne, 34, president of the LM Boxing Club in Mandelieu, applauds the initiative. “This is fantastic!” exclaims the sports coach. Her commitment to women was born from a request from the municipality. “I was asked to focus on a female audience. From the very first session, we welcomed around thirty students. Today, the club has nearly 80 practitioners.” In parallel, Maryanne works as an independent coach with specific audiences. “I teach classes for women in medical-gynecological facilities, in nursing homes, or with women victims of violence.” She now wants to go further by developing new projects, particularly a section of adapted sports for people with mental disabilities and boxing classes for seniors. For her, participating in this March 8 day had a particular value. “I think a lot about the women who fought to obtain the right to vote or simply the right to study. It’s important not to forget what has been done, even if there is still a long way to go.”

Throughout the workshops, participants discovered how to defend themselves, react to an emergency and gain confidence. Concrete learning that, beyond the symbolism of March 8, reminds us that prevention and solidarity can also begin on a tatami or around a first aid dummy.