What to Do if You’re Kidnapped or Abducted to Stay Safe

It's really scary to think about being abducted or taken hostage, but knowing how to handle the situation can help you feel calm and focused if it does happen. While the best thing you can do is to avoid an attack in the first place, if someone attempts to kidnap you, try to get away before they can incapacitate you. If you are taken into captivity, stay safe by complying with your kidnappers and observing your surroundings until you can escape or be rescued. In an interview with wikiHow, a self-defense expert shared their insight on how to weigh all of these options and make the best choice for your survival in a hostage or abduction situation.

What to Do if You’re Kidnapped or Held Hostage

Self-defense trainer Ross Cascio says to flee if you can get away, but scream and fight if you can’t. If your attacker is armed or you can’t flee, comply with demands to increase your odds of survival. Don’t make sudden moves, follow instructions, and try to humanize yourself to stay safe in captivity.

Section 1 of 6:

Is it best to fight back, run, or comply?

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It’s best to comply unless your odds of getting away are high. No two hostage situations or abductions are the same, but as a rule of thumb, it’s usually better to stay calm and comply if your attackers are armed. If they aren’t armed and you’re in public, running is your best bet. If you think you can fight them off and you’re cornered, fight back.^{[1]
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- The exception is an abduction where the attacker wants to get you in a car. Unless they have a gun, you’re best off not complying here. The odds of survival go down if you’re taken to a second location, so don’t let them move you if you can.^{[2]
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Meet the wikiHow Expert

Ross Cascio is a self-defense trainer and Krav Maga instructor with over 15 years of experience teaching people how to stay safe.

Section 2 of 6:

Responding to an Attack

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1
Run away from someone who tries to take you if you can. If you're ever in a situation where someone tries to abduct you, do anything you can to avoid going with them. Try to pull away from them, then run as fast as you can in the direction of the nearest people or building that you can see.^{[3]
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- Cascio says that you should “do whatever you can to not let someone abduct you or get you in their vehicle.”^{[4]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Ross Cascio
  Self Defense Trainer
  
  Expert Interview} It will be much harder for authorities to find you if your attacker drives you a long distance, and the odds of survival drop if you’re taken to a new location.^{[5]
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Yell to draw attention to the situation. Cascio explains that yelling is a great way to draw attention and potentially scare your attacker off.^{[6]
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Ross Cascio
Self Defense Trainer

Expert Interview} If someone attempts to kidnap you, start shouting right away, especially if you know there are people nearby. Even if the attackers manage to subdue you, keep yelling to try to get someone's attention. If someone hears a shout and sees what's happening, they may be able to help you before you're taken.
- Try yelling something like, "Help!" or "Call the police!" "Fire!" is also a helpful thing to yell. People are more likely to respond to fire, and this can summon help faster.
- At the very least, an onlooker can contact the authorities and let them know that an abduction has taken place. They may also provide critical details like the kidnapper's physical appearance or the type of vehicle they're driving (noting the license plate number is especially helpful).
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Fight your attacker as hard as you can. It can be really hard not to panic, but if you can stay calm and focused on survival, you may be able to fight off an attack if someone grabs you. Cascio recommends doing everything you can to fight them off, including hitting, kicking, biting, or scratching. As you do that, try to target your kidnapper's eyes, nose, throat, or groin, as these are especially sensitive targets. As long as there's still a chance you could break free and run, it's worth fighting for.^{[7]
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Ross Cascio
Self Defense Trainer

Expert Interview}
- This is your best chance to escape, because the moment will be hectic, and there's a chance someone will see what's happening and intervene.
- Cascio says it’s best to remind yourself that “they are trying to take you away from everyone you love and everyone that loves you. That’s what you are fighting for.”^{[8]
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Look for objects in your environment to use as weapons. As you're fighting off your attacker, try to gather yourself enough to scan around you. Look for anything close enough to grab that might give you an edge in the fight. If there's nothing that you can use as an offensive weapon, check for anything you can use as a barrier between you and your attacker, like a chair or a table.^{[9]
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- For instance, even if your attacker knocks you down, you might spot a loose chunk of sidewalk that you can grab to hit them with.
- In your home, you might be able to grab a heavy vase or lamp, a fireplace poker, or even a large book.

Section 3 of 6:

Dealing with Being Captured

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Follow your captors' instructions once you are in captivity. If you are captured, compliance is your best option for survival. Stop resisting and follow any orders they give you. You're more likely to be hurt or killed if you continue fighting after you're overpowered, such as if you're being held by multiple people, put in restraints, or placed in a vehicle or other confined space.^{[10]
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- Once you're abducted or taken hostage, it's best to take a measured approach to escaping, rather than an impulsive one, so start evaluating your surroundings rather than fighting to get away.
- If you're put into a vehicle while you're conscious, pay attention to as much about the trip as you can, like how long the car travels without stopping, the direction of any turns, or any sounds you notice on the road. Cascio says that all of these details can help you later.^{[11]
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- If you're in the trunk of a car, look for a glow-in-the-dark handle that you can pull to release yourself from the trunk. If this release cord isn't present, try to kick out the tail lights and wave your hands to alert other motorists that you're trapped inside.^{[12]
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Stay calm and focused on survival. Cascio says the only thing that matters now is survival.^{[13]
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Ross Cascio
Self Defense Trainer

Expert Interview} Once you're taken captive, try to dig deep within yourself to find your composure. Avoid upsetting your captors by screaming or fighting, but it’s okay to talk, cry, or plead quietly—this may make you seem more human in your kidnappers' eyes, which may make them less likely to kill you.^{[14]
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- When you're talking to the person who's abducted you or taken you hostage, speak softly and clearly. Don't be belligerent or uncooperative. If you antagonize your captors, they may be more likely to attack or even kill you.^{[15]
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Try to connect with your kidnappers, but don't pretend to support them. It can help to talk to your kidnappers about universal subjects, like families, your hobbies, or sports. However, don't go so far as to try to befriend your captors or defend their cause. They're likely to see this as a ruse, which could anger them.^{[16]
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- If there's anything you want or need, like medication or a book, calmly ask for it—it might help establish some rapport.
- During conversations with your captors, avoid the subject of politics or religion, especially if you are being held by terrorists.
- If you have pictures of your family with them, you can even show them to your captors to help them see you as more of a person, rather than just a victim.
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Observe as much about your environment and captors as you can. Cascio says to look for “accents, tattoos, height, style of clothing, trains running nearby or sounds of cars, proximity to airports or other landmarks, smells, building features, etc. All of this is data that could help you if you get a chance to escape, or are freed and your captors are pursued.”^{[17]
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Ross Cascio
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- Even if you're blindfolded or it's dark, you might be able to pick up on sounds or smells that can give you clues to your location. For instance, if you hear a lot of traffic, you'll know that you might be able to find help if you can just escape the building.
5
Do not admit to accusations if you're interrogated. In some cases, you might be taken hostage or abducted because your captors believe that you have information they could use for political or personal gain. No matter what they do, do not divulge any information that can be used against you or your loved ones.^{[18]
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- However, do try to act like you're being cooperative. For instance, you might answer questions about your line of work without divulging your company's bank account numbers.
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Find a way to communicate if there are other captives. If you're taken hostage as part of a group, or if you discover that your captors have also abducted others, try to set up some way to communicate. However, avoid speaking openly amongst yourselves in front of your captors, as they may separate, restrain, or even kill some members of the group in an attempt to subdue everyone.^{[19]
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- You might speak quietly amongst yourselves when the kidnappers are out of the room, for instance, or you might tap out a message if you know Morse Code.
- It may be helpful to set up a code word in case the opportunity to escape arises.
- This is not only good for your survival chances (it’s easier to develop a viable escape plan as a group), but it’s also good for your mental and emotional health. Communicating with other people is a great way to keep your mind sharp.
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Prepare yourself to be held for a long time. Depending on the situation, you may be held for only a few hours, but you might be there for days, months, or even years. As you begin to adjust to your situation, try to develop a daily schedule, tracking time by outside cues like birds chirping, temperature changes in the room, or even your guards' activities.^{[20]
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- Even if it doesn't seem very appetizing, eat whatever food they give you so you'll stay healthy and strong (unless you have reason to believe it’s unsafe).
- Try to use flexing exercises like planks and squats to keep your muscles strong. Many of these can be adapted to work even if you have a very small range of movement.
- Meditation or prayer can be a good way to keep yourself mentally strong while you're being held.
- Fortunately, the longer your captors hold you, the more your chances of survival increase. The vast majority of captives who survive the first three days will survive the entire ordeal.^{[21]
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Section 4 of 6:

Staying Safe During Rescue

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1
Wait to be rescued unless you are positive you can escape safely. Cascio says that if you're in captivity, you're most likely to be killed if your captors discover you trying to escape. If you see an opportunity to escape and you're absolutely sure it can work, take it. However, if that's not the case, bide your time. Cascio points out, “If you break free, then what? Are you going to exfiltrate somehow? Are you going to fight your way out of the situation? If your plan comes down to that, you'd better have some training that has given you physical self-defense skills.”^{[22]
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Ross Cascio
Self Defense Trainer

Expert Interview}
- Tracking an abduction victim or negotiating with hostage-takers can take a lot of work, so it's important to be patient and allow the authorities to find you.
- An exception to waiting for rescue is if you believe your captors are planning to kill you. For instance, if they suddenly stop feeding you or if they seem very nervous or scared, your life may be in danger, and you should find any way out you can.
If you ever somehow gain access to a phone, dial emergency services. However, if you risk upsetting your captors by trying to sneakily call, just wait. Alternatively, you can dial 911 and just leave the phone in an inconspicuous area. A blank 911 call will alert authorities.^{[23]
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Say there’s an opportunity to get away and you take it. You get outside. What’s next? Look for the busiest possible area and head there as fast as possible. A mall, a busy street, even a gas station—if there are other people, you can get help. Explain what happened to you and ask for help by calling the authorities.^{[24]
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Drop to the ground if someone attempts to rescue you. Say the SWAT team barges in with tear gas, and the whole situation becomes chaotic. The authorities may not know who’s a captive and who’s an abductor right away. Unless you have reason to run, just drop to the ground and cover your head. There’s no reason to risk accidentally getting shot or injured by making sudden movements.^{[25]
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- It’s okay to crawl behind something to provide cover if you have to. Stay away from windows and doors, if you can.
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Follow the authorities' directions once you're rescued. If you're found by the authorities, there will likely be several chaotic moments where they have to determine who's a kidnapper and who's a victim. For your safety, get low to the ground with your hands behind your head or crossed in front of your chest. Don't run, and don't make any sudden movements.^{[26]
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- As the authorities secure the scene, they may handcuff and search you. Allow them to do this, then let them know that you've been abducted.
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See a doctor for medical attention as soon as possible. Once you escape or you're rescued, you need to be evaluated by a doctor for any physical trauma you might have sustained as a result of the abduction. However, it's equally as important to talk to a mental health professional to help you process your experience, as well.^{[27]
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- Find a therapist who specializes in trauma to ensure you get the care you need.

Section 5 of 6:

Coping with Anxiety about Kidnappings

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Remind yourself that kidnapping is uncommon when you start to feel anxious. It's extremely unlikely that you'll face a kidnapping attempt in your lifetime. Keeping this in mind may help you regain a feeling of control if your anxiety starts to spiral out of control. However, don't beat yourself up over your anxiety—it's normal to worry that bad things may happen to you or your family, especially if you've recently read or heard about a kidnapping case.^{[28]
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- This may be particularly true if the kidnapping was in your area or happened to someone who resembles you.
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Prepare yourself in case a kidnapping attempt does occur. Cascio says that everyone can benefit from some basic safety awareness, like paying attention to their surroundings or being cautious around strangers. He explains, “Simple things like walking in well-lit and populated areas, not going places alone at night, not going places with people you don’t know, not wearing flashy or expensive items in a place you are not familiar with, not overconsuming alcohol, etc. All of these things can reduce the availability of opportunities in which you might be attacked.”^{[29]
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Ross Cascio
Self Defense Trainer

Expert Interview}
- For instance, if you are visiting a different country, you work for a political or social organization, or your family is very wealthy, you may feel that you're more likely to be targeted.
- If you're in a politically unstable area, pay attention to daily news reports, as well as any terrorist threat levels, and assess your own kidnapping risk based on that.
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Stay aware of your surroundings. While you don't need to constantly obsess about kidnapping, it can help you have better peace of mind if you keep your guard up, especially when you're out in public or if you're around people you don't know well. Pay attention to what people around you are doing and trust your instincts. If something or someone seems suspicious, try to leave the situation as soon as possible.^{[30]
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- Whether you're traveling or you're in your hometown, try to avoid locations that have a reputation for being unsafe. Also, avoid walking alone at night. Park in well-lit areas and ask someone to walk you to your car if you're by yourself.
- When you arrive at your home, have your keys in your hand before you exit your vehicle. If you have a garage, open the garage door, drive in, and make sure the garage door is fully closed before you get out of the vehicle.
- Don't reveal personal information about yourself when you're talking on the phone in a public location, as this could give a kidnapper information they could use against you.
EXPERT TIP

Ross Cascio
Self Defense Trainer
Ross Cascio is a Krav Maga Worldwide self-defense, fitness, and fight instructor. He has been training and teaching Krav Maga self-defense, fitness, and fight classes at the Krav Maga Worldwide HQ Training Centers in Los Angeles, CA for over 15 years. He helps people become stronger, safer, and healthier through Krav Maga Worldwide training.

Ross Cascio
Self Defense Trainer

Our Expert Agrees: Change up your routes to work or school regularly so a stalker can't predict your actions, and if you think you're being followed, go to the closest police station.
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Try to make yourself as inconspicuous as possible. When you're out in public, avoid drawing attention to yourself, as this can make you a more attractive target to potential kidnappers. Wear nondescript clothing and avoid wearing jewelry or flashy shoes. Also, depending on where you're going, you may not want to carry high-value electronics like a smartphone, tablet, or nice camera.^{[31]
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- If you're traveling on foot, walk confidently and with purpose. Avoid stopping on the street to check a map, and take care who you ask for directions since you want to avoid giving the appearance of being a lost tourist.
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Change up your routine every few days. Kidnappers often study a person's daily habits before attempting to take them. You can make yourself a more difficult target by making your movements unpredictable. For instance, you might plan out several paths to work or school, and change which one you take every 2-3 days.^{[32]
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- You can also eat lunch at a different restaurant each day, visit different bars or meet your friends at different times, or leave for work at a different time.
- If you do believe you're being followed in your vehicle, immediately drive to a police station or somewhere you feel safe. If you're walking, go into the nearest crowded, public space.^{[33]
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- If you're working for a government agency overseas, consider driving a nondescript vehicle without any obvious markings so you're less likely to be identified on the road.
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Take self-defense classes to feel more confident. A self-defense class can give you the tools you need to stay calm during a high-pressure situation like an attempted kidnapping. In addition, you'll learn effective ways to fight back if someone grabs you. Cascio recommends Krav Maga as the best martial art for self-defense.^{[34]
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Ross Cascio
Self Defense Trainer

Expert Interview}
- Look online to find self-defense classes in your area.
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Talk to your doctor if your anxiety about kidnapping is interfering with your life. If you've taken steps to keep yourself safe, yet you're unable to stop thinking about or worrying about being kidnapped, it may help to talk to your primary care provider. They can help you evaluate whether your concerns are valid or if you may be struggling with an undiagnosed anxiety disorder.^{[35]
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- Your doctor may refer you to a counselor or therapist who specializes in anxiety.

Section 6 of 6:

What are the chances of being kidnapped?

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Your odds of being kidnapped are 1 in 720,000. People like to cite all kinds of crazy (and inaccurate) statistics, but the real odds that someone actually kidnaps you are astronomically low. You’re equally as likely to lose 20 coin tosses in a row or win the California lottery if you buy 6 tickets a week for a year.^{[36]
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- The point is, kidnappings are exceptionally rare, and unless you know there’s a person in your life who actively wants to kidnap you, this is not something you should spend time worrying about.

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Tips

Other places to hit an attacker are the temples (sides of the forehead), armpits, kneecaps, and solar plexus (between your chest and stomach).

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If you’re tied up during the perfect opportunity for escape, try to release your bonds by holding your wrists together as tightly as possible, then sliding your hands back and forth until one gets loose.
If you’re being driven a long way, see if you can ask your kidnappers to go to the bathroom at a rest stop. If they let you, lock yourself in and try to get help.

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Warnings

If you do try to escape, consider the area where you're being held. If you're in a foreign country, for instance, the locals might be just as hostile as your captors.

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