CRIME TIPS How to stay calm during a robbery attack
- nationalpilot
- Aug 4, 2015
- 3 min read
1. Be aware of what is going on around you. Whenever you're in a place that could potentially be held up, such as a bank or a small store, stay alert. If you notice suspicious activity, don't go near it but leave and report it as soon as it is safe to do so. Trying to keep out of any hairy situation in the first place is the best way to remain calm.
2. Cooperate. Before anything else, signal your intention to the robbers that you intend to cooperate. This isn't the time for heroics and defiance. Make it obvious that you are acquiescing by responding to their requests promptly and not back chatting to any of their demands.
3. Cooperating will help you to stay calm because your chances of surviving the incident are greatly increased by doing nothing to set off the volatility of the robbers.
4.Remind yourself that the incident will be over faster if you comply with their demands.
5. Focus on staying calm. If you feel panic beginning to rise, it's important to try to slow down your thoughts and remain focused on pulling through. Signs of panic include a racing pulse, dizziness, sweating and cramps in your hands and feet; it will often progress to hyperventilation (difficulty in breathing), which can last for several hours.
6. Listen as well as you can. Apart from gathering potentially useful details, listening carefully can help to keep you calm as you'll be more aware of what the robbers intend to do as they talk. Also try to watch the robbers' movements if doing so doesn't endanger you, as body language can help you gauge what they intend to do next.
7. Expect swearing, shouting and other unnerving noise and actions or reactions. If you're prepared for volatile, scared and crazy behavior from the robbers, at least you're on guard for the worst and can try to focus on protecting yourself, seeking any valid exit possibilities or finding ways to keep yourself out of harm's way.
8. Focus on other people in the same predicament as you. A good way to remain calm is to assume responsibility for helping other people around you remain calm and supported. While you're busy trying to help them and be strong for them, you're less likely to give in to fearful and panicked reactions.
9. Spend time looking for ways out of the situation. Consider whether escape is a safe possibility or not (most times it is best to wait it out). Consider whether it is worth talking to the robbers or not. Working on strategies to get through the event can help to keep you calm because you'll feel that you have at least a little control over what is happening to you.
10. Go inside yourself and build a protective wall. During the minutes of the robbery, time can seem to stretch eternally. It can help by drawing on inner resources to keep yourself calm and focused on the time when it will be over. If you have a faith, draw strength from your beliefs. If not, you can still draw on your reserves of strength and belief that you will see this incident through and it will soon be all but a memory. Visualise when the time will be over and you are free again.
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