Tag Archives: Evasion

Avoiding or escaping a threat, as opposed to taking it on head to head.

How to Avoid Being Struck by Lightning

Posted by on January 11, 2012 Comments Off

There’s really no full-proof way to avoid being struck by lightning.  Luckily for us, lightning strikes are a rare occurrence compared to many other deadly situations out in the world.  According to the National Weather Service, 2011 set a new record for the least amount of lightning-related deaths in America, with less than 30 people having died due to lightning strikes. This is about half the yearly average.  In fact, over the past few decades there’s been a continuous decline in lighting-related deaths, perhaps due to increased education on the subject.

You should be mindful of weather conditions and take precautions to reduce your risks of being struck.  Lightning most often becomes a threat when the victim is in the outdoors and caught off-guard by a storm.

  • If you can see lightning and/or hear thunder, the risk is already present
  • When a storm approaches your area, avoid large open spaces (like a field or golf course) or high-elevation locations (like a mountain).  Get away from light poles, metal fences, large bodies of water, and isolated trees.
  • If there is a time delay of less than thirty seconds between spotting the lightning and hearing the resulting thunder, you need to be extra careful.
  • Take refuge in a large, enclosed building if possible.

Note that a lightning strike can easily be fatal, but this is not always the case.  Roy Sullivan, a U.S. Park Ranger managed to be struck by lightning 7 times throughout the course of his life.  Still, many people are not so lucky.

Featured Photo by carolynconner

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Tips for Preventing Shark Attacks

Posted by on November 19, 2011 Comments Off

I'm gonna eat you all up, nom nom nom

There is no singular method for complete protection from the possibility of a shark attack when a person is in the water.  However, there are a few precautions you can take:

  • Avoid the water at dawn, dusk, or night, since this is when sharks frequently feed
  • Avoid areas where sharks generally congregate, like murky waters or steep drop-offs
  • Avoid swimming by yourself, always be close to a group of people.  If possible, avoiding being at the edge of the group.
  • Refraining from excessively splashing.
  • Keep your pets from entering the water.
  • Avoid shiny jewelry, tan lines and bright clothing, which can easily attract the attention of sharks.
  • Avoid entering water if you are bleeding from an open wound or if you happen to be menstruating.
  • Avoid areas where the traditional prey animals of sharks live, such as seals.
  • Avoid areas where fish remains have been discarded into the water, such as near fishermen cleaning their catch.  This is basically shark bait to the area.
  • sharks will attack at just 2-3 feet of water, remember to stay closer than that depth in any shark infested waters.

Featured Photo by Rupert Ganzer
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7 Preventative Safety Tips for Traveling on Foot

Posted by on September 12, 2011 Comments Off

Rather than depending on your fighting skills to get you out of every physical confrontation, it’s best to avoid the confrontation in the first place.  Here are some general suggestions for avoiding unnecessary confrontation when traveling around on foot:

1.  Avoid any public displays of cash.  Showing your cash or valuables makes you a target for theft.

2.  When intoxicated and/or emotional, don’t go out at night alone.  You will mostly likely be distracted and less aware of what’s going on around you, making it easy for someone to sneak up on you.

3.  Avoid headphones when walking around, it will be harder for you to hear approaching threats with them on your ears.

4.  Traveling with others is always preferred to traveling alone.  Avoid isolated places with few or no witnesses.  When you can, stick to well-lit areas with lots of witnesses.

5.  Make sure you practice being aware of your surroundings when traveling around outside.  Look over your shoulder every now and then, don’t “zone out”, pay attention to the people around you.

6.  When you take the bus or any other public transportation, sit near the driver/conductor at the front.  If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, let the driver know.

7.  When taking the bus, know the bus schedule and try to minimize the amount of time you wait at the bus stop.  If you’re alone, avoid waiting in a covered bus area, where it is easier to be trapped.

Featured Photo by Elvert Barnes

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Ninja Gear: Caltrops

Posted by on September 9, 2011 Comments Off

Caltrops are one of the oldest examples of what is called an area denial weapon, a tactical device used to keep foes/unwanted visitors from occupying/entering a designated area. Some are merely meant to slow down and hinder your foe, others (such as a landmine) are clearly meant to be fatal to the unlucky intruder. Any sort of booby-trap could be considered an area denial weapon.

Caltrops are small weapons made up of 2 or more entwines nails or other sharp objects, manufactured in such a way that there is always a sharp end pointing up.  When left on the ground, it can be a very unpleasant surprise for the enemy to step on.  They can also be used to pop the tires of a vehicle.  A spike strip is a device made specifically for impeding the movement of vehicles with air-filled tires, though are much easier to see than caltrops and thus not nearly as useful for slowing down people on foot.  A punji stick is a trap that hides a piece of upright sharpened bamboo used for the same purpose as caltrops.

Featured Photo by Kai Hendry

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