Another quickie

Not a nooner... a quickie.

Some dirtbag throws plastic over your head or face in an attempt to smother you ~ what do you do?

Because you are unerschrocken and prepared ~ pardon the redundancy ~ this might be your only option, something that might work better than standing there turning blue and dead:

If they don't bind your hands somehow, you'll probably be resisting the attacker(s) with your strong arm.  Good call.  So, with your weak arm, reach into your pocket and take out your knife, open it with one hand.

You say you don't have a knife?  Well, why not?  Go get one and get back here ASAP.  We'll wait.

Okay, back OT:

Quickly but carefully put the blade of the knife where the upper edge of the bag or plastic wrap is, at the top of your head.

Yes, you're about to make yourself bleed.  On purpose.  But it's just like pulling a sliver out of your finger... only different.

Then, draw the blade down the side of your face, so the cut you're making goes in front of your ear.

Dragging the knife down behind the ear might be too difficult a move to make in that situation, unless your attackers have fled. And, either way, you want to avoid pulling it across the carotid artery a/o jugular vein.

When the plastic is cut; keeping hold of the knife, pull the plastic either down or up, to get it off your face.  If you're still fighting and can't get it all off but you're able to breathe, then continue to fight using the knife as a weapon. Don't be shy about using improvised weapons in that case. 

So, your knife. 

• The blade length should be one that's legal in your area
• The blade should be lockable when open
• You should be able to open the blade with one hand/thumb, using either hand 
• You should practice taking the knife from your pocket and opening it, with your eyes closed, and practice with both hands
• The knife should be kept in a pocket on your weak side, left side if you're right handed, right side if you're left handed 
• It may be wise to not use the belt clip, but to keep it concealed in your pocket 
• If you're a lady, you shouldn't keep it in your purse ~ buy one big enough to do the job but small enough to conceal in a skirt waistband or bra strap.
• Remember you're carrying/wearing it before you go through metal detectors

If you're bound, it seems to me your first concern is finding something sharp by which you can either puncture or cut your way out.  You may not have time to first find a way to undo your hands.  I don't know, I'm not there.

Either way, don't give up even though you may not be able to see well because of the plastic.  You can probably hold your breath longer than you think. 

While it's statistically improbable for most of us to be attacked in this way, it would be prudent to think about this in advance since terrorists have it in their bag o' tricks.

Take a look around at work and home and places you frequent and see what's there you can use to cut or tear a hole in the plastic, should you need to do so.   

• A coat hook on the wall
• A tree branch
• A fence post or rail
• A nail on a fence rail
• The corner of an open car trunk
• A broken tail light
• The latch on your briefcase
• A broken light bulb
• A broken vase
• A metal burr on a drinking fountain
• The corner of a fire extinguisher cabinet
• The metal hinge on a large trash can
• Rough edges of nearby machinery

Some of these may seem silly, but the other option is death. Asphyxiation is a horrible way to die.  So, as usual, it's all up to you, kids.

Sticky stuff in the face to smother you?  Don't try clear your eyes first, you need to breathe. Your nostrils are smaller than your mouth.  So...

• Open your mouth as wide as possible
• With two fingers on your weak hand, poke through the stuff
• Make a hook with your fingers and then pull out as much gunk as you can ~ like when you were trying to make yourself puke in college... only different
• Repeat as necessary
• Seek medical evaluation ASAP.

Fear not.

Be careful out there.

Comments

[ka]

My wife took one of my belts and sewed velcro closable pockets into the interior. The pockets contain several bits of survival gear. The pocket in the rear of the belt contains a handcuff key and a hook knife joined together with a bit of paracord to make sure I don't drop them. I wear this belt every day.