by Charles Simmins

Created on: June 23, 2009   Last Updated: November 12, 2010

In the last year, terrorists have struck at luxury hotels in India, Catholic churches in Iraq, and plotted to attack the Pope in England. Terrorist attacks can happen in any country or in any city. They may involve dozens of attackers or just one. The attackers may have a specific target or may just intend to cause fear and confusion. However the terrorist attack happens, there are some things you can do if you are caught in the middle.

The experienced traveler checks with the U.S. State Department. They routinely assess conditions in other nations and they maintain a website with the warning they have issued. It is not possible to predict dangers with total accuracy, but before you go abroad, it will pay to examine what the State Department has to say.

Another means of preparing for a safe trip abroad is to spend a little time reading the news about your destination. Unrest, riots, strikes, coups. All of the news that makes headlines about where you want to go is important.

If you find yourself in the middle of a crisis abroad, the Embassy or Consulate is the place to call. If things are very uncertain, seek refuge there. Evacuations of foreign nationals from a country in turmoil begin at the Embassy or Consulate. Make it easy for the Marines to find you.

There are a few common sense tips to remember if you care caught in the middle of a terrorist attack.

If there is shooting, duck and take cover. Do not look around or try to get closer. That great picture of a gunman, or twittering your situation, can wait.

Suicide bombers are important tools of several terrorist organizations. People that look out of place, that are dressed wrong for the weather such as wearing a long coat on a hot day, may be terrorists. It would be appropriate to extend your walk by going in the opposite direction for a few blocks until you are clear of the suspicious individual.

Some terrorists take hostages. If you are taken hostage, your captors will almost certainly tell you that they do not intend to harm you. The events of September 11 amply showed that terrorists lie.

Hostages escape all the time from their captors. Be as alert as you can be, look for situations where they are distracted or absent. Escape is a risky business but it may be your only way out.

There are some places in the world where kidnapping for ransom is the norm. If you believe that to be the case, you will want to let your captors know who to contact. It is only money and your life is worth far more than any ransom price.

If your are caught in the middle of a terrorist attack and the authorities intervene, do exactly what they tell you. Do nothing that might cause them to mistake you for a terrorist. The middle of a firefight is not the place to make demands of the authorities.

Above all, if you are caught in a terrorist incident, stay calm. Do all you can to take shelter, protect yourself and your loved ones, and wait for things to calm down. As soon as possible, make your way to the Embassy or Consulate for additional assistance. Planning before taking a trip, and keeping a cool head in an incident abroad will help keep you safe and uninjured.

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