Travel Safety Tips from an Embassy Security Analyst
A little over two years ago I had the opportunity to talk with a traveling security analyst for the US Foreign Services, Rick. Rick’s job is a pretty cool one, he travels around the world, and analyzes various foreign service establishments (like embassies) for overall security. He also spends a little time in each country training embassy personnel in personal safety abroad (mainly in developing countries). It was under this context, personal safety abroad, that I had an opportunity to talk with Rick, and I’d like to share some of the less “common-sense” points he made.
Please note, the following travel safety tips are meant to compliment the standard list of “common-sense” safety tips most travelers are familiar with. Tips such as staying in groups, take taxis at night, don’t carry valuables, stay in well lit areas, etc. If you need a refresher on any of these “common-sense” tips, please scroll down to the “further reading” links after this post.
1. Look behind you: Most people try NOT to deliberately look over their shoulder to detect danger. They feel it makes them look scared or nervous. However, if you do have someone lurking in the shadows behind you contemplating attack, a direct “look” can be very effective in scaring him off. Basically, thieves and attackers are looking for easy targets. Even if you are scared out of your wits, a good look behind shows the thief/attacker that you are ready for him. It makes him think twice about what tricks you might have up your sleeve, and will usually forget about you and move on to an easier target that isn’t as aware or ready as you are.
2. Fight dirty: I feel like most females are taught this from a young age, but it’s something males don’t always consider. If attacked, there is absolutely no reason to treat the situation like a boxing match. Whatever you need to do to get away, do it. We all know that a kick to the groin is very effective, but the groin isn’t always accessible. Other weak spots are the eyes (don’t be afraid to poke your attacker HARD in the eye), and feet (a hard heel-stomp on the attackers feet should free you up enough to get away).
*Violence should ONLY be used when no other options are available. Remember, your attacker does this for a living.
3. Be Ready: In any physical confrontation the worst thing you can be is surprised. We all know the feeling, when you are surprised and your body just stops working (deer in headlights) for half a second. That half a second is all your attacker needs to put himself in a dominant position. Rick described this as being in “green”. When traveling in unknown and potentially dangerous areas, you don’t ever want to be in “green”. That’s not to say you should be ready to drop-kick every person that says hello, but you do need keep safety on your mind, so that you don’t find yourself surprised and “green” if something does happen.
This is a much harder thing to do than it is to say, but you can start by just considering potentially danger situations and what you would do if “X” were to happen. The idea here is definitely NOT to live in fear, let me reiterate, DO NOT LIVE IN FEAR. Rather be aware of your surroundings, and equip yourself to make the best possible decisions if something does happen.
4. Purpose and Attitude: You can see it everyday, travelers wandering around town, fumbling with maps, not moving with any kind of purpose, and just plain looking lost and confused. For a thief, these are the easy targets. As a traveler in a new land, you have to remember that people are always watching you. Move with purpose and a little bit of attitude. Act like you know exactly what you are doing, where you are going, and that you are not the person to f*ck with. If you do need help or directions, go into a store and ask the clerk for help, be somewhat discreet. DO NOT approach every random Joe on the street, and stir up a lot of attention on how to help the foreigner. Most people have the best of intentions, and simply want to help, but the attention raises green flags for any thief within a 100 meter radius - Here is a foreigner that doesn’t know where he is or what he’s doing.
Further Reading:
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