WATCH ABOVE: For the first time Horizon Health’s Sexual Assault Nurse will be on site at the upcoming ACDC concert working with medical staff. Global’s Brion Robinson reports.
MONCTON – The Horizon Health Network is making a sexual assault nurse examiner available for the first time at the Magnetic Hill concert this year.
Emmanuelle Landry is sexual assault nurse examiner coordinator with the network at the Moncton Hospital.
She says making a presence at the concert will spread awareness of the network’s sexual assault services.
“Its a good thing to put us up there to let people know there is a program it exists,” she said. “If there is a sexual assault during the concert I will be there for support and I will go with the patient.”
RCMP say there have been no sexual assaults reported from Magnetic Hill concerts. One of the last sexual assaults reported at an outdoor concert happened in Shediac in July 2012.
Despite the low number of reported cases, Landry says outdoor shows can be risky.
“Every time there’s a show like that where alcohol is involved and a lot of people involved there’s always a greater risk for assault,” she said. “They say there’s only four per cent of people who will press charges and come forward so we only see a little portion of them.”
Groups who deal with sexual assault victims are supporting the service.
The Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre said in a statement that the decision “demonstrates a responsible coordination of large scale events.”
Groups that work with youth at risk also say having a nurse on site is a proactive approach.
Mel Kennah speaks for Youth Impact Jeunesse Inc.
“It’s great to have that service on site to be needed during the event,” he said. “But even as important if not more important is that education piece that awareness and proactive thrust of getting out there to let people know here we are.
The AC/DC concert comes to Moncton September 5th.
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