Ever heard of the news lately? Almost every day, they have a new victim. Couple of weeks ago, a call center female supervisor was killed inside a cab. She was on her way to work at 2am shift. Few days ago, another lady was shot on the head and is now at the state of coma.
It’s time for our government to dismiss other political non-sense issues and really do something about these. Anyway, that is not my subject in this blog.
I’ve thought spreading the “news” will help a lot of people - not to scare them but to give them awareness, facts, tips and how-to’s.
I am always thankful that I am still alive…
Just like counseling, I would say it’s easier to take it from those who had the experience rather than those who have no clue. But I surely appreciate those who gave me encouraging words during my tough moments.
Anyone can be a victim. You can’t say it won’t happen to you because you don’t look like a possible prospect – rich-looking, “weak”, celebrity, businessman or politician, etc.
Who’s the muggers’ target and where?- Anyone especially female call center workers or those with unusual work schedule – night, graveyard shift or early morning shift. Obviously, because it’s dark and there are few people around and no policemen (Does their presence matter here anyway?). It happens everywhere but is rampant here in Metro Manila area.
What should I do?1. Avoid walking alone along a free way or clear street if you can.
2. IF you have no choice because of your unusual work schedule, check the following practical tips:
-Use bags that will easily tear off or avoid using fancy bags.
-Don’t place your valuables (cellphones, IDs, cards) inside your bag. Put them in your pocket instead.
-Keep a low key and avoid dressing up so as not to attract muggers. No jewelry. Wear rubber shoes when going to work. My pair of rubber shoes really did the job in protecting my feet. If you have dress code at work, better bring your office uniform and shoes then get changed when you arrive in your office.
3. When riding a cab, immediately get the plate number and send it to someone you know. Also lock all the doors. My usual practice now when riding a cab after work is to ask the guard to get the plate number for me.
4. Find a place or apartment that ensures security and safety.
5. Avoid sleeping when riding a cab or a bus. Be vigilant.
What do I do during the mugging incident?
· When a gun or a knife is pointed at you, don’t think twice but immediately hand over your bag or cellphone. Giving it away is the best way to deal with this. Never fight back even if you are a renowned black-belter martial artist or an Olympian taekwondo medalist. I learned that most self-defense experts get killed in their attempt to fight muggers contrary to what we watch on action movies… pretty much like how actors are shown doing stunts without getting bruises.
· Drive-by bag snatchings will not give you a chance to think as this is done very quickly and takes few seconds only. Dragging is part of the muggers’ “trip” or fun. If you have a very durable bag that does not easily tear off then release your hold as soon as you realized what’s going on. But this is a rare case. Normally, it is human’s instinct to hold on to your bag as you try to figure out what’s going on...unless you are trained or you get used to the experience. People who think you are too stupid to hold on have no clue. They have not experienced it and they got no idea about what is really going on during the incident. They don’t understand basic human psychology and the meaning of velocity and motion. I guess they needed to get a taste of it in order to understand. Try to experiment -surprise and grab your friend’s bag or wait ‘til someone does it to you. Let’s check your response and you’ll understand what I’m talking about.
What to do if you are a victim?The incident definitely affects not just physical but the emotional aspect. Here’s a list of what has to be done:
Physical
Immediately seek medical attention. Have X-ray & anti-tetanus shots. Cleanse your wounds regularly (once or twice a day). Hot compress is good for bruises. Stay at home and have bed rest. Expose or uncover your wounds but protect them from insects. White fluid & red blood oozing out from your wounds will cause the gauze to stick to them and will be harder and painful to remove when you need to cleanse them.
Emotional
Expect emotional depression, fear and anger as you feel cheated and violated. Prayers work wonders. We needed time to be alone but make sure we are surrounded by our loved ones most of the time. During my distress, what kept me strong was the thought of Christ’s suffering on the cross. What I was going through was nothing compared to His sufferings. That also helped me hope and think that the pain was temporary and I would be well soon.
What to do if your family member or friend is a victim.Listen and be sensitive. You can ask what happened but if the victim is having a hard time talking, just keep quiet. She may be in a stage of shock. If she’s too emotional and crying, don’t be loud and avoid cracking jokes unless she initiated. In my case, it’s embarrassing for me to cry in front of people. So I tried to fight my emotions. That explains why I did not cry that day and the jokes helped. Find a way how to get in touch with the victim by getting her new number if any. Send her SMS message, call her or pay her a visit if it’s okay with her. Sympathize; let her feel that you feel what she feels. Words of encouragement and assurance of prayers are recommended instead of telling them what she should have done. Chances are, you don’t know any better. Be sensitive as the victim is very prone to depression during these moments.
