Memo to the population on actions in case of hostage-taking
Each specific case of hostage-taking is peculiar and different from the others.
However, if you are held hostage:
pull yourself together as soon as possible, calm down and don't panic;
if you are tied up or your eyes are closed, try to relax, breathe deeper;
prepare yourself physically, mentally and emotionally for a possible ordeal. At the same time, remember that most cases of people being captured, the hostages remained alive. Be sure that special and law enforcement agencies are already taking professional measures for your release;
do not try to escape if there is no complete confidence in the success of the escape;
remember as much information about the terrorists as possible. It is advisable to establish their number, the degree of armament, to make the most complete verbal portrait, paying attention to the characteristic features of appearance, physique, accent and topic of conversation, temperament, demeanor, etc. Detailed information will help later in identifying the terrorists;
by various signs, try to determine the location of your location (imprisonment);
if possible, stay away from windows, doors and the kidnappers themselves, i.e. in places of greater security if active measures are taken to free you (storming the premises, sniper fire to defeat criminals, etc.);
in case of storming the building, it is recommended to lie face down on the floor with your hands folded on the back of your head;
do not be indignant if, during the assault and seizure, you may be treated somewhat incorrectly at first (before establishing your identity), as with a likely criminal. You may be searched, handcuffed, tied up, emotionally or physically injured, interrogated. Be sympathetic to the fact that in such situations, such actions of the stormers (until the final identification of all persons and the identification of the true criminals) are justified.
Relationship with kidnappers:
do not show aggressive resistance, do not make sudden and threatening movements, do not provoke terrorists to rash actions;
if possible, avoid direct eye contact with the kidnappers;
from the very beginning (especially the first half hour), follow all the orders and orders of the kidnappers;
take a position of passive cooperation. Speak in a calm voice. Avoid expressions of contempt, defiant hostile tone and behavior that may provoke the anger of the invaders;
behave calmly, while maintaining a sense of self-esteem. Do not express categorical refusals, but do not be afraid to make calm requests about what you urgently need;
if you have health problems that can manifest themselves in a situation of severe stress, declare it in a calm form to the people who captured you. Gradually, taking into account the current situation, you can increase the level of requests related to improving your comfort.
If you are in a hostage position for a long time:
do not allow feelings of pity, confusion and confusion to arise. Mentally prepare yourself for future challenges. Keep mentally active;
avoid the emergence of feelings of despair, use the internal resources of self-persuasion for this;
think and remember pleasant things. Remember that the chances of being released increase over time. Be sure that everything possible is being done now for your speedy release;
constantly find yourself something to do (exercise, reading, life memories, etc.). Set a daily schedule of physical and intellectual activity, do things in a strict methodical manner;
to maintain strength, eat everything that is given, even if you do not like the food and do not cause appetite. Be aware that loss of appetite and weight are normal in such an extreme situation.
Maintaining psychological stability is one of the most important conditions for the rescue of a hostage. Here, any techniques and methods that distract from unpleasant sensations and experiences are good, allowing you to maintain clarity of thoughts, an adequate assessment of the situation. It is useful to learn the following rules:
do the physical exercises available in these conditions, at least, strain and relax all the muscles of the body alternately;
it is very useful in all respects to practice auto-training and meditation, they will help to keep your psyche under control;
remember the books, poems, songs you have read to yourself, consistently think about various abstract problems (solve mathematical problems, remember foreign words, etc.). Your mind should work;
if there is such an opportunity, read everything that will be at hand, even if the text is not at all interesting to you. You can also write, despite the fact that what is written will be selected. The process itself is important, helping to maintain sanity;
try to treat what is happening to you as if from the outside, without taking what happened to heart, hope for a successful outcome to the end. Fear, depression and apathy are your three main enemies, they are all inside you.