Survival, Evasion, and Recovery
Do you have a plan for Survival, Evasion, and Recovery if should you become the target of a hostile force while traveling? Having a plan can mean the difference between returning home a little worse for the wear, or not returning home at all. ~ Always have an escape plan!
Successfully evading capture by hostile forces depends upon personal preparation, planning for the contingency, and to some degree, fortunate circumstances or luck. Attention to detail when preparing an emergency action plan, complete familiarity with communications devices and emergency procedures, and knowledge of personal survival kit items, indigenous personnel, and regional knowledge (flora, fauna, topography, climate, etc.) will aid in successful evasion. Isolated persons should carefully consider contact with indigenous people. Many countries have citizens overseas in areas where there is strong potential for mixed attitudes towards foreigners. There may be a high-risk of indigenous persons responding negatively or even violently, and your presence may result in personal danger to them regardless of their sympathies. Areas controlled by insurgents and illegally armed groups or criminals, locations of mob activity, roads, railroads, trails, rivers, border crossings, and heavily populated areas are normally considered high-threat evasion environments. Individuals must take great care to prevent exposure or capture. As a first move, isolated persons should attempt to establish contact with friendly forces, break visual contact with hostile elements, and move to a secure hiding site. If in a damaged vehicle, move away for as long and as far as possible. If forced to abandon the vehicle, the isolated person should move fast and change directions frequently. When possible, the isolated person should evaluate the immediate situation and again establish communication with friendly forces. Only after careful consideration of their situation should they attempt to evade to an area to initiate recovery. Isolated persons should treat all travel as evasion.
A YouTube Video from Imminent Threat Solutions demonstrates skills for escaping from restraints:
Escape Illegal Restraint - A Comprehensive Guide That Could Save Your Life
2:25 - Zip Ties Intro
5:17 - Best Case Scenario Zip Tie Hand Placement
8:51 - Shimming Zip Ties
11:50 - Breaking Out of Single Zip Tie
13:39 - Breaking Out of Double Zip Ties
17:00 - Friction Sawing Zip Ties
22:41 - Breaking Out of Duct Tape
25:24 - Escaping from Handcuffs
34:51 - Cutting through Rope
37:55 - Wrap Up
Some kidnapping prevention tips include:
Vary your travel routes and times. Don’t set patterns that allow someone to ambush you.
Plan your routes before setting out, and always know where you are.
Travel with more than one person in your vehicle, or travel in multi-vehicle convoys.
Keep vehicle doors locked, and keep windows up anytime you are driving in a city, or stopped at an intersection.
Leave enough space between you and the car in front to give yourself an escape route.
Be aware of the possibility of surveillance and employ surveillance detection techniques.
Pay attention to other vehicles in front and behind you, and be aware of cars waiting in side roads or in off-road parking spaces.
Be especially alert when arriving at or departing from known locations, such as your home or work.
Maintain appropriate security at your residence to prevent home-invasion robberies and kidnapping. Install top-quality locks. Have an alarm system, and security cameras. In some cases a 'panic room' may be appropriate to allow you to lock yourself away from attackers.
Have a working cellular telephone, and know what numbers to call in an emergency. But remember when seconds count, help is just minutes away.
Be careful about revealing data on social media - Do not reveal too much about yourself or your family members via social media. No need to flaunt new cars, houses, or condominium units. Never reveal your home address on social media. Don’t post on social media the places you frequent.
Always be properly armed to allow you to resist a violent attack, such as a kidnapping attempt. (According to U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics data, having a firearm and being able to use it in a defensive situation is the most effective means of avoiding injury (more so even than offering no resistance) and thwarting completion of violent crime, such as robbery or assault. In general, resisting violent crime is far more likely to help than to hurt, and this is especially true if your attacker attempts to take you hostage.)
The US Army Asymmetric Warfare Group's Travel Awareness Handbook recommends carrying an escape and evasion kit.
An example of an escape and evasion kit is on the CIA web-site.
These escape and evasion kits contain lock picks, a very useful tool if you know how to use them. To learn the basics of lock picking, begin with the Visual Guide to Lock Picking. If you become skilled at lock picking you will likely have specific tools that you favor. However, for someone that just wants to develop basic lock picking skills to use in an emergency, you might consider getting an Emergency Lock Pick Kit for Preppers.
Articles of Interest
Restraint Escape Carry: 16 Ways To Go Undetected
Restraint Escape Kit: Why You Need The Ability To Escape
Basic Principles of Escape and Evasion (9-page PDF)
How To Escape From A Kidnapping
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