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Sixteen percent of girls who
have had sex only once do get
pregnant, contrary to the myth
that “‘you can’t get pregnant the
first time’’. Planned Parenthood
does not advise any of their
clients to have abortions, nor do

‘they refer for abortions, con-

trary to the misconception many
Canadians have about the
organization.

by Charlyon Toews

Linda Manzon, an educator

with the Planned Parenthood

Association of B.C., exploded
these and other myths in Terrace
on March 17 where she spoke to

' a small group of interested per-

sons on how parents can talk to
their teenagers about sexuality,
and how to start a Planned
Parenthood branch.

‘In 1983 the Planned Parent-
hood Federation of Canada
(PPFC) commissioned a Gallup
Poll, asking parents if they talk-
ed to their children about sex.
The majority — about 80 per-
cent — said yes. A year later,
PPFC had Gallup ask teens the
‘same question. Only 30 percent
of these kids said their parents
talked to them about sex. So
while parents are perceiving they
are communicating with their
children, the kids aren’t getting

the message,”’ she said.

Manzon explained that Plan-
ned Parenthood believes parents
are the primary sex educators,
and exists to assist them, as well
as schools, public health person-
nel, and community groups.
Planned Parenthood can help
with up-to-date audio-visual
materials, free booklets, and
information meetings.

Manzon said many teens still
believe myths about sexuality,
such as: you can’t get pregnant
if you have sex standing up, or if
you drink ice-water afterwards,.
or if you are under 16 years of
age. While parents seem to have
lite difficulty discussing sex-
uality in general with their
children, such as promoting
family values, they get hung up
on details about birth control
and sexually transmitted dis-
eases.

“This is because many of
today’s parents grew up when
parents and children did not talk
about sex: they have no model to
draw from in discussions with
their own children. And it’s hard

‘to admit your children are sex-

ual. It’s frightening to think they
might become sexually active if
they have information.”’

But Manzon said studies show
that increased information does

Workshop studies
injury prevention

- A one-day Ergonomics
workshop held at Mount Layton
Hot Springs Resort recently

_ helped to kick-off Canadian
.Physiotherapy Week, held from

March 13 to 19.

by Tod Strachan

Ergonomics, or human
engineering, is the scientific
study of the relationship bet-
ween people and their work en-
vironment. It takes into account
the physical, physiological and
psychological requirements of a
job, in order to identify and
alleviate hazardous situations
which can cause chronic injury
and discomfort such as muscle
and ligament strain or joint in-
juries which are often slow to
heal and easy to reinjure.

Sponsored by the Nor-
thwestern District of the Cana-
dian Physiotherapy Association,
the workshop attracted many
health care professionals and in-
dustry representatives from
around the Northwest to hear
Klari Varallyai, a
physiotherapist practicing in

Campbell River and Gold River
-and one of Canada’s leading

ergonomic consultants.

“While ergonomics is com-
mon in other industrialized
countries, the concspt is new in

‘Canada,”’ said Varallyai. ““The

purpose of ergonomics is to
study the physical requirements
of a job to ensure that it is set up
to provide a safe and healthful
work environment.’’
According to Varallyai,
Australia and Scandanavia have

_ well-developed ergonomics pro-

grams.

In Australia for example,
legislation requires all com-
panies with more than five
employees to have an
ergonomics team made up of
management, employees, a

physiotherapist and other ex-
perts. The team reviews work-
related injuries to find a means
_of prevention. and can make
recommendations for redesign-

ing the work area or for the im-
plementation of preventative
educational programs. .

Varallyai says she treats
dozens of injuries which could
have been prevented. ‘Offices
are as hazardous as heavy in-.
dustry. For example, things like
poor chairs, insufficient lighting
and improper desks often result
in postural problems and back
and muscle strain. An awareness
or ergonomics and the applica-
tion of its principles can help
employers to reduce the number
of days lost to injury and can
eventually lead to a reduction in
WCB premiums.”

Crime drop
reported

Terrace RCMP appear to be
successfully dealing with two of
the city’s main concerns —
youth offences and vandalism.

A year ago, at the request of
RCMP Inspector Larry Yeske,
city council listed youth crime as
their primary concern that need-
ed to ‘%e addressed by the
RCMP. In a recent report to the
city, Yeske indicated there has
been a significant drop in youth
crime, and he has again asked
council to list their concerns for
the coming year.

In his report, Yeske said that

‘in the past 12 months youth

crime has decreased by about 10
percent and youth involvement
in liquor related offences has
dropped 30 percent.

“The drop in youth crime can
mainly be attributed to our
crime prevention programs in
the schools and shoplifting
prevention programs at local
business, The drop in liquor
offences by youths is due to
sharply increased checks of
vehicles, liquor establishments
and arcades, which resulted in
26 percent more liquor viola-
tions: being. detected,” wrote
-Yeske.

not lead to increased sexual be-
haviour. “The teens that delay
sexual behaviour, that have a
more responsible attitude, are
actually those who have access
to both birth control informa-
tion and services.’’ These teens
also tend to have a variety of in-
terests and friends, a clear sense
of their own values and decision-
making powers, and good com-
munication with their parents.

Parents can help their kids by ~

exploding myths before they
hear them from their peers. “If
parents tell their children that
they can expect to hear lines like,
‘If you love me, you'll have sex
with me’, they can help them
prepare for it. Then when the
teen does hear the line, it'll click.
It’s just a line.’’

_ Terrace Review _

Planned Parenthood explodes the myths

If parents talk to children
when they’re young about learn-
ing to deal with such pressure-
laden situations, when they
come to the cirsis experimenta-
tion stage in adolescence they'll
have asolid base And educating
young children to know they are
in control of their bodies and
can say, ‘no’, can also help pre-
vent sexual abuse.

Planned Parenthood has 14
branches in B.C. Most have
both an educational component
and a once-a-week clinic,
Although about half of the clinic
clientele are teenagers (most of
whom have been sexually active
for about a year before seeking
birth control information), half
are adults. Counselling is
available in the areas of infertili-

Wednesday, March 23, 1988 19

ty and genetics, marital and
premarital concerns, sexuality,
pregnancy, and _ sterilization.
Clinics are staffed by doctors
(who are reimbursed through the
Medical Services Plan), one paid
nursing supervisor, and trained
volunteers.

‘Tt takes about a year froma
meeting like this to do the plan-
ning, needs assessment,
volunteer training and fund-
raising to start a branch,’” Man-
zon warned. However, the Plan-
ned Parenthood main branch in
Vancouver helps new branches
with information, training, and
supplies. A list of persons in-
terested in exploring the idea of
starting a branch is being col-
lected through the Terrace
Women’s Resource Centre.

City of Terrace

(TOURISM AND ECONOMIC
ADVISORY COMMISSION)

The City of Terrace has Commission Positions Available to fill vacancies
left by outgoing members whose terms of office have expired.

YOU ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT YOUR NAME:

(in confidence) to:
The City of Terrace
3215 Eby Street
Terrace, B.C. V8G 2X8
Attn: Rob Greno

Please outline your background and interests and state your reasons for
wishing to become a member of the Advisory Commission.

Closing Date for applications: April 8, 1988.

~ Thornhill
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