Home Invasion Survival Tips

 

There is no right or wrong way to protect you and your family during a home invasion. When your home security is broken through, the next step is to escape alive.

The best defense against a home invasion is prevention, including family education and planning. One family meeting to discuss general rules and procedures may save a life in years to come. Parents should teach children how and when to answer or not answer the phone or a knock on the door in the scenarios of parents being home or away. Convey the importance of not openly discussing family trips or valuable family items in public, such as your latest electronic or expensive purchase.

Don’t forget to teach kids the basics, such as always locking the doors and windows before leaving home. The weakest home security link is failing to lock doors or windows and opening the door without question at the sound of a knock or ring of the door bell.

After educating the family, next is to prepare for the unexpected. Discuss a plan of action in case your home or family is invaded. Your reaction possibilities are endless because every situation is unique, but planning ahead and practicing will create a greater chance of finding safety sooner for you and your family.

If you have a home security system, make sure everyone knows where the panic button is and who ever is the closest, to hit it.

Teach your children how to dial 9-1-1 at a young age and explain the appropriate situations to dial it. If your phones have an emergency button to directly call 911, show your children where it is located and to hit it immediately when there is danger.  Discuss and review what to say once an outsider is contacted, dangerous and uncertain situations cause everyone to panic, especially kids.

Have a code name for when a family member is in danger or when a family member is about to make a move to get help, attack, or escape. Choose an order of neighbors to go to if one person can escape so the remaining know where to find them.

The options of response:

Escaping immediately, saving yourself - This option decreases the amount of time the burglars have to complete their job while having their privacy leaked. Some refuse to look like a coward by leaving their family in danger; however, radical actions may pay off later if you are able to immediately get help.

Fighting and screaming- Screaming and yelling works well if there are neighbors close by or in a public area. There is no purpose in fighting if you are physically incapable. If fighting, make a strong, forceful hit to the nose, eyes, throat, or groin area. This will give a small window of time to escape and call for help. Do not stay and fight because the burglar could come back to attack and seriously injure you. Household items, such as cleaners or other chemicals can inflict pain and injury as well, providing you with a similar escape opportunity.

Compliance with burglars- This allows more time to think of an effective plan of action while creating an escape opportunity once the burglars let their guard down. However, this allows the burglars more time to think of escape routes while ensuring you and your family cannot get away.  Never comply with being tied up, restrained in anyway, or leaving your home.

Pulling a weapon on an armed intruder-This option should be your last resort. Most of the time, house hold weapons are not loaded for child safety, so in the rare occasion you have access to a loaded fire arm, be aware the burglar is just as desperate and often will not hold back.

Faking an illness- does not always work, most burglars do not care about your health. This would only work in public areas or being transported from one place to another.

No matter what option you choose, make sure you stay calm and put thought into your actions because it will affect everyone surrounding you. To best handle such a situation, education and preparation are key.