Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

This story could save your life: How to escape dangerous situations

burglar

Shutterstock.com

The expert sharing his tips

Jason Hanson is a special agent-turned-entrepreneur. He spent six years in the CIA, then became a private security consultant, teaching corporate executives and wealthy people how to protect themselves from disgruntled employees, kidnappers and other ne’er-do-wells. Demand for Hanson’s classes grew, and he developed the Spy Escape and Evasion Live Training course for the general public. In 2014, he appeared on “Shark Tank” and won a $150,000 investment from entrepreneur Daymond John to expand the spy escape course. Since then, Hanson has traveled the country teaching, written a book, manufactured a line of safety products and signed a deal for a reality television show.

Want to take the class?

Spy Escape and Evasion Live Training will return to Las Vegas in spring.

When: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. March 25-26

Cost: $997

More information: spyescapeandevasion.com

The Cooper Color Code

White: You are unaware and unprepared. Your head is down; maybe you’re texting or typing on a keyboard. Most crimes are crimes of opportunity, and you look like an easy victim.

Yellow: You are on relaxed alert. Your head is up, and you are looking around, aware of who and what is around you. You periodically check behind you to see if anyone is there. You aren’t anticipating a threat but are conducting an inventory of your surroundings.

Orange: You are on specific alert. Something isn’t right, and it has your attention. You prepare to react ­by grabbing your cell phone to call for help, turning and walking into a crowded area or scanning for avenues of escape.

Red: This is condition critical. You are in danger and enter survival mode. You are prepared to react, ideally by running but by fighting or defending yourself if necessary.

They throw a hood over my head and duct tape my hands.

“Look down,” they yell. “Don’t move.”

Someone nearby stands.

“Sit down, or we will kill you,” they shout.

My body locks, my heart pounds.

“You’ll never see your families again,” they scream.

“Today, you will die.”

There are 30 of us. We do as they say. It’s the natural reaction — to freeze and acquiesce. But it’s the wrong reaction, the one most likely to get you killed.

The scenario: A mass of terrorists in a foreign land has stormed our tour bus and taken us captive. We have a small window of time in which to escape, or we die.

Thankfully, this is a drill. My group is sitting in a conference room at the Hampton Inn Tropicana; our abductors are former CIA and law enforcement agents. We’re taking a Spy Escape and Evasion course to train our bodies and minds to react during emergencies.

U.S. Department of Justice statistics say almost a quarter of Americans will become victims of a violent crime in their lifetime. One in 6 women will be the victim of an attempted or completed rape.

Terrorism, sexual assault, abductions, home invasions, mass shootings and other heinous crimes have become commonplace. It’s impossible to guarantee you’ll never be a victim.

But knowing what to do in such situations can greatly improve your chances of emerging a survivor.

Be (a)ware: Tips to keep you safe in any situation

TIP: WHERE TO STORE VALUABLES IN YOUR HOME

Most criminals head straight to the master bedroom when looking for items to steal. That’s because most people keep cash, jewelry and other valuables there. Be more creative. Better hiding spots include:

• A hollowed book in a bookshelf

• A fake vegetable can designed to hold valuables

• A fireproof safe kept in a box marked “old clothes” or “books”

• A gun safe

TIP

Aim to keep $1,000 in cash, in $20 bills, in your home at all times. The money can keep you afloat if there’s an emergency that prevents you from accessing banks or ATMs, or the money can be used to pay people for services, equipment or supplies in a crisis.

TIP

Give copies of important documents — your passport, drivers license, power of attorney, will, etc. — to trusted family members or friends. Or keep copies in a secure storage unit. If the originals are lost or destroyed — in, say, a fire — you’ll have backup copies that are easily accessible.

TIP

When staying in a hotel, request a room on floors three through six. The first two floors are prime targets for thieves and other criminals, but you won’t be so high up that you can’t escape quickly.

1. Be aware: No amount of training can keep you safe if you aren’t aware of your surroundings. Many police and military organizations use gun expert Jeff Cooper’s color code to categorize state of mind and level of awareness. Experts suggest everyone live in yellow. Pay attention to norms. Any deviation from the baseline could signal trouble. Is someone wearing a heavy coat in summer? Is the noise level you hear typical? Conversely, trying to match the baseline could help keep you safe abroad. When traveling, try to blend in with the cultural norms of the place you’re visiting.

2. Watch your pacing: It isn’t natural for someone to travel at the exact same speed as you. Most people instinctively strive to find open space and avoid walking in step with a stranger. Think about driving on the highway; if two cars end up side by side, one typically slows down or speeds up. Someone who matches your pace is suspect. Try speeding up and slowing down. If the person continues to match your stride, get away from him or her as quickly as possible.

3. Be self-reliant: In an emergency situation, the only person you can rely on is yourself. Even with perfect execution, first responders can take several minutes to arrive. Shelters and mass gathering sites historically have been sites for violence. And countless studies show bystanders often do nothing to prevent crime. “People are not going to come to your rescue most of the time,” Hanson said. “There is no guarantee a Good Samaritan will come along. You have to be self-reliant in life.” Being self-reliant doesn’t mean being selfish. In fact, if you are aware and ready to react, you often are in a better position to help others.

4. Keep moving: Most people freeze in crisis situations. Don’t. Movement saves lives, Hanson said. Consider: Some people survive the impact of a plane crash only to die from smoke inhalation. First responders frequently find car crash victims still seatbelted in fiery wrecks, even though there was ample time to escape. If someone comes at you with a knife, you can move out of the way or be stabbed. If someone is shooting at you, a moving target is much harder to hit than a stationary one. Moving and taking action can significantly increase your chance of survival in an emergency.

5. Don't be too nice: That isn’t to say you shouldn’t help someone in need or be a good neighbor. But be discerning and remain aware. Criminals often take advantage of people’s natural tendency to be helpful, Hanson said. Serial killer Ted Bundy, for example, feigned injury and disability to lure victims. Similarly, just because someone is holding a baby doesn’t mean they are a good person, Hanson said.

6. Don't be a hero: Just because you have the skills of a spy doesn’t mean you should use them. Feel empowered, certainly, but be smart. Don’t put yourself at risk unnecessarily by picking fights, boasting or overreacting to provocation.

Self-defense

In times of stress, the average person loses 50 percent of his or her IQ and fine motor skills. That’s why training for emergencies is essential, so your muscle memory can take over.

These are the most sensitive and effective places to hit someone if you are in danger: eyes, sinuses, neck, ribs, kidney, pelvis.

Top tools used in abductions

• Duct tape

• Rope

• Zip ties

• Handcuffs

But what do you do if:

You are tied up with duct tape:

If possible, keep your elbows together when your hands are being bound. This will help you escape later.

A. If you can move your arms, raise your hands above your head, then with one strong, swift movement, bring your hands down forcefully to your hips, aiming each wrist at each hip. The momentum and angle should rip the duct tape. The same approach works if you are bound with zip ties, although those require much more strength and effort to break apart.

B. If you can’t raise your arms, find an object with a 90-degree angle, such as a window sill, table or corner of a wall. Situate the angled edge of the object against the duct tape, so it lands in between your wrists and parallel with your arms, then quickly and repeatedly move your hands up and down, pushing into the edge with a sawing motion. The angled object will act like a knife to cut the duct tape.

C. If your body is bound with duct tape to a chair, simply lean forward as if to touch your toes. The duct tape will stretch and should break.

• • •

You are tied up with rope

If possible, keep your palms touching and your elbows apart at the sides of your body when your hands are being bound. This will help you escape later.To untie your hands, hold your arms in front of your body so your elbows are together and your hands are open and flat against one another. Shimmy your hands back and forth as if rubbing them together. The knotted rope should loosen and fall off.

• • •

You are kidnapped

Try to escape quickly. The first 24 hours are critical; you are strongest because you’ve haven’t been starved or dehydrated, and you likely are closest to the kidnap point. While plotting your escape, act submissive and avoid looking at your captors. Any aggressive behavior could provoke your assailant or make him suspicious. That could rob you of a potential window of opportunity to escape.

• • •

You are attacked from behind

Take a step backward to throw the attacker off balance. Human instinct is to bend forward, but the better response is to create space between you and the assailant by using the weight of your body to throw him off his feet. Once you are free, run or defend yourself with blows.

• • •

You are locked in a vehicle

To smash a vehicle window, hit or kick the corner of the window. The glass is tighter there and easier to break. It likely won’t shatter with the first blow; keep pounding it in the same spot.

• • •

You are grabbed by someone

Pull back with all your might on the person’s pinky finger, trying to peel it from its grip. Even an offensive lineman will let go if you pull on his pinky hard enough.

• • •

You are being followed

Let the person know you are onto them. Make eye contact. Turn to them and yell, “What?” Most people with ill intentions will flee. Criminals want easy victims they can catch by surprise. Make left, rather than right, turns. Most people’s first impulse is to turn right. But be sure to alternate randomly the direction in which you turn. Many escaped prisoners end up doing circles because they keep turning right or left. Also, go high. Climb a tree or head to the top floor of a building. Most pursuers aren’t likely to check above ground level. Just be sure to have an escape route in mind.

How to respond when an active shooter is in your vicinity

By the numbers

• 160: active shooter incidents took place in the United States between 2000 and 2013

• 486 people were killed in the attacks

• 557 people were injured

• 21 incidents ended after unarmed citizens restrained the shooter

• 60% of the incidents ended before police arrived

• 64% ended with the shooter committing suicide.

• 46% of the incidents took place in an area of commerce.

• 24% took place in educational institutions, and 10 percent took place in government properties.

Paris. Sandy Hook. San Bernardino.

As recent incidents have shown, active shooters can target anyone, anywhere.

An active shooter is defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a person who is actively engaged in killing or trying to kill people in a confined and populated area. In most cases, there is no pattern or method to his or her selection of victims.

Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Typically, law enforcement is required to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to victims.

But because such scenarios typically span only 10 to 15 minutes — before law enforcement has time to arrive — people must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation on their own.

At all times ...

• Be aware of your environment and possible dangers

• Take note of the two nearest exits in any location you visit

TIPS FOR PREVENTING PROPERTY CRIME

Q: Is a home alarm worthwhile?

A: Yes. “It’s a no-brainer, because it is so affordable,” Hanson said.

Be sure to install sensors on every door and window, and motion detectors throughout your home. Post signs and stickers on your lawn and windows to alert potential intruders that you have an alarm system.

Video cameras and alarm systems are widely available for a relative low cost.

Q: What if I can’t afford an alarm?

No worries. You still can post alarm company stickers and signs on your property to make burglars believe you have an alarm system.

Also, whether you have a dog or not, buy a large dog bowl and bone or chew toy to leave in plain sight, to give the illusion that you own a big, menacing pet.

The idea is to make your house look difficult to break into. Most burglars will choose a target that looks easier.

• • •

If there is an accessible escape path, try to flee. Be sure to:

• Have a route and plan in mind

• Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow

• Leave your belongings behind

• Help others escape, if possible

• Do not try to move wounded people

• Keep your hands visible

• Follow instructions from law enforcement if they have arrived

• Call 911 when you are safe

• • •

If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the shooter is less likely to find you. Your hiding place should:

• Be out of the shooter’s view

• Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction (Ex: an office with a closed and locked door)

• Not trap you or restrict your options for movement.

To prevent an active shooter from entering your hiding place:

• Lock the door

• Blockade the door with heavy furniture

• • •

As a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger, try to disrupt and/or incapacitate the shooter by:

• Charging him or her

• Acting as aggressively as possible

• Throwing items and using improvised weapons

• Yelling

• • •

When law enforcement arrives:

• Remain calm and follow officers’ instructions

• Put down any items you may be carrying (Ex: purses, bags, jackets)

• Immediately raise your hands and spread your fingers

• Keep your hands visible at all times

• Avoid making quick movements toward the officers or holding onto them for safety

• Avoid pointing or screaming

• Do not stop to ask officers for help or directions when evacuating; just proceed in the direction from which the officers entered.

Information to provide to law enforcement or a 911 operator:

• Location of the active shooter(s)

• Number of shooters

• Physical description of the shooter(s)

• Number and types of weapons used by the shooter(s)

• Number of potential victims

The first officers who arrive to the scene will not stop to help injured people. Rescue teams of additional officers and emergency medical personnel will follow to treat and remove victims. They also may call on uninjured bystanders to help.

Once you have reached a safe location or an assembly point, you likely will be held in that area by law enforcement until the situation is under control and all witnesses have been identified and questioned. Do not leave until authorities have instructed you to do so.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy