You’ve seen it in movies. You’ve seen it on the nightly news, but you’re sure it will never happen to you. Well, you may be very wrong. Being abducted and held for any number of reasons is a very real possibility in life, and you need to be prepared for it. Although you can’t predict the future or become a superhero in the face of danger, there are ways to thwart a kidnapping. These include everything from awareness to weapons use, to using the buddy system, and thinking fast on your feet. Review the tips below to decrease your odds of being snatched and taken away.
Tips to Thwart a Kidnapping
Awareness of Your Surroundings
Situational awareness is a phrase echoed through every topic centered on personal safety, and for good reason. It’s a necessity. Knowing who is around you when you’re out in public will decrease your chances of being taken by surprise. Additionally, strange vehicles nearby, a questionable “repairman” you never called knocking at your door, or someone following your same path, are all suspicious.
Being alert is key, and that means putting aside anything that may cause a distraction. The main culprit today is the cellphone, followed by earphones. Both electronics keep you focused on all the wrong things. Your vision is fixed upon a small screen, and your hearing is dampened by either voice or music.
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Instead, put the electronics in your purse or pocket, scan your surroundings, and walk with supreme confidence.
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Consciously Avoiding Danger Spots
Although similar to being aware of your surroundings, danger spots can be areas that you do see but should circumvent to avoid possible danger. These caution areas include sidewalks crowded with less-than-savory individuals, ominous stairways or alleyways, or dimly lit parking garages. These areas are perfect for two-legged predators.
At these locations, you can scream but be unheard. You can fight, but be overpowered. Trusting your sixth sense that something feels off is important. Walking out of your way or paying for a well-lit parking lot are small prices to pay for your continued safety.
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Carry a Weapon (and know how to use it)
There are numerous personal safety weapons on the market today. But before you haphazardly buy the first one you see online, a few things must be taken into account.
First, read reviews about the effectiveness of the product. There are good ones out there. There’s also a lot of novelty-style junk that will only give you a false sense of security and won’t help in the least.
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High-decibel alarms, pepper spray, taser guns, stun guns, and irritant launching pistols are all viable options. Mace.com and Pepperball.com, for example, offer excellent self-defense gear. However, once purchased, the training and know-how of the weapon are vitally important for fully understanding its benefits and limitations.
Your first interaction with your weapon of choice shouldn’t be the day you’re abducted.
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Resist With All Your Might
It’s a known fact that once you’re taken away from the scene, your chances of survival plummet to a great degree. Yes, you may be threatened with a gun or knife to get into a vehicle by abductors, but statistically speaking, your best chance is to fight like an absolute beast.
If people are nearby, scream as loud as possible when you either fight to escape or flee at the first sign of a threat. Bringing attention to your ordeal may spook your assailants and force them to give up and go. Additionally, they are less likely to try to shoot you as you run (always in a random zigzag pattern) away.
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Resist Panic and Think Intelligently
It’s certainly easier said than done, but you need to try not to panic during a frightening abduction. To the best of your ability, you should focus on several things during the ordeal.
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Try to note what your abductor(s) look like, what they’re wearing, how they speak, and any noticeable tattoos or unique body characteristics. If you’re not blindfolded after being taken, try to see any landmarks as you’re driven away. Likewise, try to calculate how long you drove from your abduction point.
What may seem unimportant to you may be the clue needed to either escape or have others find you.
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Playing the Game
While in an abductor’s custody, you need to “play the game.” If you give them too much trouble, you’ll only agitate them and possibly cause you more harm than good. Conversely, if you are overly nice and far too subservient to their every command, they may think you are up to something and keep a closer eye on you. This would definitely prevent you from getting away.
Instead, obey them and go along with their requests. All the while, you should be watching, noting, and identifying everything in your immediate area that may be useful for you to make your move and escape.
Escaping your Kidnappers
Although you’re not Houdini, you can escape from a variety of constraints. Carrying a universal handcuff key is wise, as is knowing how to escape from zip ties with a paperclip or with your own shoelaces. Also, taking in a huge breath and flexing your muscles prior to being tied up allows a gap in the bindings when you relax.
These techniques can be researched and should be practiced until they become second nature. Always look for the opportunity to act and escape. When you do, give it a one-hundred-percent commitment and don’t hold back or slow down until you’re safe.
Safety Needs a Multifaceted Approach
There is no one foolproof method to avoiding or escaping from an abductor. A multi-faceted approach will give you the best odds to survive. First and foremost, you need to understand it can happen to you. From there, you need to be fully prepared for the unexpected, so that they won’t try you and move on to another unsuspecting target.
