How to Thwart a Kidnapping

Many kidnappings occur because the person was too trusting or bystanders chose not to assist. Though you can't depend on the kindness of strangers, you can always depend on yourself. Follow these steps to help thwart a kidnapping.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Personal alarm
• Martial arts

1. Trust your instincts. If you think you are being followed, hurry to a place where there are lots of people.
2. Shout your head off. If you think someone with bad intentions is following you, start screaming for help. If it turns out you're wrong, you may be embarrassed. That's better than being sorry.
3. Fight back. Elbows and knees are great weapons. An elbow to the solar plexus or a knee to the groin of your attacker will stop the assailant cold.
4. Carry something for self-protection. Personal alarms, whistles and pepper sprays are good tools for thwarting a kidnapping.
5. Be aware of your surroundings. In unfamiliar areas, watch for exits and stay in well-lit areas. Walk along heavily trafficked thoroughfares. Attackers are less likely to pursue a victim in an area of high visibility.

Tips & Warnings

• Take a self-defense course.
• Fight with whatever you have on you. Car keys can be a weapon in a pinch. Grip the keys so that the points protrude from between the fingers of your fist and punch at your assailant's face and eyes.
• Never go into unfamiliar areas alone.
• Just because you are acquainted with someone, doesn’t make that person safe. Eighty percent of kidnappings are perpetrated by someone known to the victim.