You’re a prominent,
outspoken social figure and
come from a wealthy family.
It’s late and you’re in a
foreign city for business.
You’re strolling down the street alone,
when all of a sudden,
you are confronted by a man
holding a gun
and he’s telling you to get into a van.
The first 48 to 72 hours
following an abduction are critical.
After this time period,
memories begin to fail
and the trail gets cold.
Hopefully your captor
doesn’t have murderous intentions,
because the longer you are held captive,
the higher your chance of survival.
You should try to break free
from your abductor
as quickly as possible.
Yell "fire" or "police"
to get people’s attention.
Attempt to fight them off
with any weapon you have available.
A pen,
car keys,
an aerosol can,
anything you can get your hands on
that will cause harm.
Target sensitive areas like the eyes,
throat,
groin,
and knees.
If they threaten death or injury
unless you go with them,
you should take your chances and run.
Even if they have a weapon,
do not go with them willingly.
Once you're alone,
your captor has all the power.
But what if you aren’t able to get away?
If you're captured,
now is the time to be calm and polite.
You want to avoid angering your captor,
so don’t show any attitude
and steer clear of sensitive topics
such as politics or religion.
Follow any rules given and
and do not engage with them
unless they talk directly to you.
Your goal is to maintain as low a profile
as possible to avoid harm or death.
The longer you can survive,
the better chance you have of escaping.
Memorize as many details
as you can of the abduction.
The license plate,
how many turns you took,
if you stopped at all,
specific noises.
Repeat these details in your mind
until they become lodged in your memory.
They will aid in your escape and
could help authorities locate
your kidnapper later.
As covertly as possible,
study everything about your captor.
Carefully notice their facial features,
voice,
any accent,
strange characteristics,
clothing,
and aliases they may go by.
All of these will be important
for identifying the person
if you manage to escape.
Observe your surroundings
and use all information available
to begin creating a viable escape plan.
Look for possible exits
and note the schedule of your captor.
Keep refining your exit strategy
until it’s the right time to implement it.
And do not attempt to escape
unless you have a solid
window of opportunity.
This is not the easiest thing to do
when you’re kidnapped.
But meditating,
exercising,
and creating a routine
can help stabilize your mental health.
If possible,
keep up your personal hygiene
and stay hydrated.
Focus on things that bring you joy
and remember happy events
from your past.
You'll need all the positivity
and patience you can muster while you
wait for the perfect moment to break free.
It’s finally time to attempt your escape.
Either the best possible window
of opportunity has arrived,
or you have no other choice
because your captor is
starting to act strange.
Nervousness,
excitement,
panic,
or a change in the usual routine
could be signals they are
preparing to kill you.
So you need to get out of there, fast.
Now is the moment to carry out
the plan you’ve been hatching for so long.
And, free at last.
Run directly to the nearest police station,
fire station,
or public area for immediate assistance.
Thankfully,
you have successfully escaped
and survived being kidnapped.
But the psychological effects
are far from over.
Make sure you seek professional help
and understand it could be
a long road to recovery.
The guidance for escaping a kidnapping
and surviving a hostage scenario
are a bit different.
So make sure you learn how to
navigate this situation,
and others,
on How to Survive.