Focus on Armed Knife Attacks
Have you ever been in a situation where - Things just don't seem right- It maybe a place or a person or just that gut feeling.
You as a person are a fantastic defence platform, you have been given the "Gift of Fear" -
One of the only things you need to focus on is - " Never Ignore your Instinct"
Reaction to Attacks in Munich Germany today:-
The key to spotting unusual demeanor, and to gathering the additional information required to place that demeanor into context, is practicing proper situational awareness. People practicing good situational awareness can literally see trouble coming and take steps to avoid it. This ability is doubly valuable in a situation involving a potential risk to you.
As in many other types of attacks directed indiscriminately against random targets, the most obvious warning sign is the attacker's demeanor as he or she selects a target and prepares to launch the attack. Similar to suicide bombers or other assailants, attackers preparing to strike with an edged weapon will usually exhibit behavior that is simply out of place. While not all attackers exhibit the same characteristics, signs such as abnormally tense body posture, a fixed stare, a nervous attitude or abnormal perspiration may indicate ill intent. These cues should then be considered alongside other contextual factors to help determine whether an individual poses a potential threat.
The Nature of Armed Attacks
Because knives, daggers, box cutters and other edged weapons are by nature an extension of the arm, their range extends only as far as the attacker can reach, plus the length of the blade. And I am purposefully discounting thrown edged weapons here.
Because of this, an attacker must be within approximately 3 feet to strike you with a knife or box cutter and within perhaps 5 feet for longer blades — although a skilled user can lunge several feet farther with a sword. Still, the best way to protect against an attack with an edged weapon is to simply stay out of the attacker's range.
If you are unable to avoid the attacker, It is also important to understand that in an encounter with a determined opponent armed with an edged weapon, you are likely to get cut. But the good news is that most cuts will not be fatal. So even if you are slashed or stabbed, you must continue to fight. Do not simply surrender at the first sign of blood and allow yourself to be slaughtered.
In a worst-case scenario — if there is no viable escape route and no opportunity to obtain an improvised weapon — it is crucial to get control of the hand and arm holding the blade. Notice that I am not saying "get control of the weapon." That is too difficult, even with training. Plus, grabbing a knife blade can result in terrible cuts to the hand. In the case of larger weapons such as machetes, swords or axes, if you cannot get away, it might actually be safer to get inside the cutting radius of the weapon in order to confront and disable the attacker. That sounds counterintuitive, but it makes sense if you think about it.
If You Are Cut
If you are wounded in an attack, it is crucial to stop the bleeding until emergency workers arrive
to help. External bleeding — even significant bleeding — can be stopped with pressure. This can be applied either directly with the hands or with some sort of pressure bandage. In cases of extreme arterial bleeding uncontrollable by any other means, use a tourniquet.
There is a difference between venous bleeding and arterial bleeding. Venous blood tends to flow more slowly than arterial, which often spurts. A victim can quickly die from a cut artery; therefore, arterial bleeding requires immediate attention. In such a case, a tourniquet can be a lifesaver.
Slashing cuts to the inner thigh, the inside of the upper arm or armpit, and the neck all could intersect major arteries. Any stab wound to the chest threatens the aortic arch, the heart itself and the lungs. Other wounds may pose equal dangers, but the rapid loss of blood adds an extra degree of pressure to these cuts in particular.
I personally travel with a simple first aid kit that includes, among other items, a tourniquet and hemostatic gauze to help stop bleeding. These items can be purchased quite inexpensively. But if someone is bleeding and you do not have access to such a kit, a variety of items such as belts, scarves or backpack straps can be employed. Even manual pressure using a shirt or other piece of cloth can help stop venous bleeding in many cases. It does not have to look pretty — it just has to stop the bleeding.
In addition to pressure, elevating a wounded limb above heart level can help reduce blood loss. You should also carefully watch a victim — yourself or anyone you are treating — for signs of shock and address it immediately. If shock is not treated, it can kill. Even the most basic first-aid courses teach how to detect and treat shock and how to control bleeding.
Edged weapon attacks can be deadly — and terrifying — and there is no sign that they will stop anytime soon. But with the proper situational awareness, mindset and training, edged weapon attacks can also be avoided or defended against.
