My Thoughts On Life, Liberty, and Everything Else

As I am sure you are aware, there were two bombings at the Boston Marathon yesterday.  We still have no clear information on who did it, and with our present governmental administration, I don’t know that we can trust what we are told.  President Obama was interested in who did it, and why.  Why they did it is far less important, unless he plans to listen to “their message” and apologize or something.

What I want to address here are a few thoughts on what you can do if you find yourself in such a situation, and even more importantly, how to avoid it.

First, don’t be there.  Large gatherings of people – and especially important focal points in those gatherings (such as start and finish lines) – are going to be prime target opportunities for people bent on killing and injuring as many as possible.  Sadly, it’s better not to be there.

Secondly, keep your eyes open.  Situational awareness is an absolute key to surviving such a situation.

• Do you see something that’s out of place, or someone or something that just makes you nervous?  Act on that feeling.  Get yourself and your family out of that area immediately.
• Know your entry and exit points, and be aware of where you are and what’s around you at all times.  If you think ahead, you can use Google Earth and take a look at photos of the area before you are there.  It will give you an advantage, especially if you have never been there before.
• One thing to point out, keep an eye on the authorities.  If you see them sweeping an area, or they announce a drill during an active event, something is wrong.  They won’t do a “drill” during an active event.
• We are encouraged by authorities using the phrase “see something, say something”.  Sadly, this is likely to cost you valuable time in such a situation.  If you stop and tell a cop, they will likely delay you and your family while they get your names, identification, descriptions, and ask you a ton of questions.  You want to be away from the area, then if you really feel like it, call it in.
• If soemething does happen, keep your wits about you.  Check yourself for injuries, and your family, then get away – but keep your head on a swivel.  One tactic that has been used for many years by the IRA, PLO, and others is to use multiple bombs a short time apart.  The first causes casualties and attracts first responders, then the next one causes casualties among the first responders.
• In the attack yesterday, the first bomb went off, and then 10 seconds later another went off about 100 yards away.  Authorities claim there were other devices that didn’t go off.  That may be true, and in that case it would seem to indicate that this was the attempted tactic yesterday.
• If you are there, if you can get yourself and your family away, do it.  Look up, and watch out for falling debris.  There were windows blown out yesterday, and fragments/shrapnel were blown around the area.  Keep your head on a swivel.
• Have an alternate means of communication.  They apparently shut down cell service in the area to prevent the attackers from communicating with each other and their explosives – which may have been triggered by cell phones.  Have a smartphone with WiFi and find a Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, or some other place with public WiFi.  Have the Skype application installed.
• But the best thing is to have an Amateur Radio Operator license, a HAM radio, and know how to use it.  That will give you many communications advantages.  In fact, if you have a police scanner and carry it, that can really help too.  Being aware of the big picture will give you intel that you can use to your advantage and help you get away from the danger faster.
• If you are caught up in the situation, the biggest thing is to not get separated.
• Have at least some first aid supplies on you.  A GSW (Gun Shot Wound) kit is a handy, small item to carry, and some QuickClot in such a scenario may just save your life, or that of a family member.

Part of living in a free society is knowing and accepting that bad things can happen.  You have the freedom to be prepared.  Do it.  Get ready today.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 16th, 2013 at 08:40 and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.