Surviving an Abduction or Hostage Situation
Tactical PreppingNov 20, 2020, 5:33:17 AM
- Any abduction can turn deadly, and whether the victim survives depends largely on decisions he or she makes while in captivity.
- If you can escape the initial abduction attempt, your ordeal ends right there.
- Be observant. Observe and remember as much as possible in order to help you plan an escape, predict your abductor's next moves, or give information to the police to aid in a rescue or to help apprehend and convict the kidnapper. You may not be able to use your eyes-you may be blindfolded-but you can still gather information with your senses of hearing, touch, and smell.
- There are a variety of motivations for abduction, from sexual assualt to ransom demands to political leverage.
- It is generally psychologically harder for a person to kill, rape, or otherwise harm a captive if the captive remains "human" in the captor's eyes. Attempt to establish rapport with your abductor.
- Keep track of time, and try to discern patterns. It can also help you plan and execute an escape.
- If the perfect situation presents itself-you have a solid plan and are almost certain that you can successfully escape-you should take advantage of the opportunity. You should also attempt to escape, even if your chances are not good, if you are reasonably certain that your captors are going to kill you.
- Stay out of the way if a rescue attempt is made. Keep in mind that aside from the first few minutes of an abduction, the rescue attempt is the next most dangerous time in a hostage situation. Your captors may become desperate and attempt to use you as a shield, or they may simply decide to kill any hostages. Even if your captors are taken by surprise you could be killed by the actions of police or soldiers, who may use explosives and heavy firepower to enter a building.
- When a rescue attempt occurs, try to hide from your captors, if posible. Stay low, and protect your head with your hands, or try to get behind some kind of protective barrier (under a desk or table, for example , or in a bathtub).
- Follow the rescuers' instructions carefully. Your rescuers will be on edge and will most likely shoot first and ask questions later. Obey all commands they give. If they tell everybody to lie down on the floor or put thier hands on their heads, for example , do it.