Topic: Varia, Riots
Survival: noun the act or fact of surviving, especially under adverse or unusual circumstances.
Living in Quebec, more specifically Montreal, these days has become slightly dangerous for students (and people in general) due to the abnormally-high amount of protesters. Now, I don't want to start preaching about which side is right; the tuition hike is a subject that I (along with all my friends I'm sure) am sick and tired of hearing about. Instead, I will post a few tips for those of you who might be stuck in the middle of a riot.
Now hold on, says Avid Reader, they are just peaceful protests! They won't turn into riots!
Yeah, just step outside and watch. More and more of these "peaceful protests" are turning to violence and vandalism. I have my own, very strong opinion about these protests and the reasons behind them, but like I mentioned earlier I do not believe it is my place to start debating.
So here are a few things you can do if you are ever stuck in a riot you never wanted to be part of in the first place:
1. Avoid Protests: If you feel like being yelled at and shoved around would effectively ruin your day (how someone can feel angry after being pushed and hit is beyond me), then it might be a good idea to avoid the protests altogether. Obviously this is not always possible for various reasons, but doing so effectively prevents you from being in a position you would like to avoid.
2. Keep Calm, Keep Your Head Down, and Keep Moving: Riots tend to make people edgy and angry and, sometimes, violent, so keeping calm will keep you from doing something which you would regret. If someone pushes or shoves you, don't respond (as that would just aggravate the situation) and keep walking.
Keeping your head down, shoulders hunched, will not only protect your face, but it will avoid drawing attention to you, thus reducing the risk that you'll be caught in a brawl.
Finally, keep moving. As soon as you stop, you are now basically part of the rioting crowd.
3. Stay Indoors: Well I think this one speaks for itself.
4. Carry Sugary Foods With You: This one is a little obscure and confusing. When in a riot, your adrenaline levels automatically increase, thus draining your energy reserves faster than normal. If that happens, then you may become too tired (especially at the end of the day) to make the right decisions based on your immediate situation. Sugary foods can therefore provide the energy you might temporarily need to leave the riot.
Edit: I was told by my better half that it takes up to an hour for the body to absorb the energy contained in sugar, and that it is the fastest the human body can gain energy, and so it is better to eat before going through a protest area.
5. Stay On The Sidelines: Walk along walls, avoid taking sides in the riot, and try to look as innocent and, for a lack of better term, uncomfortable as possible. Don't film anything, don't take pictures, just keep walking as though you would rather be anywhere else than there (which is probably true). This will help you go along unnoticed by both the crowd and the police.
6. Avoid Getting Hit By Riot Control Chemicals: Again, speaks for itself.
7. Move Away From The Riot: Walk, don't run, as running will attract attention to yourself. Try to avoid moving against a crowd, as you will be pushed and shoved; instead move with the crowd until you can find a side street or a doorway where you can break away. Avoid major roads, as they are more likely to be filled with rioters or police officers. In Montreal, try and take the metro. The metro system is usually unaffected by riots. However, in other cities it is in fact considered a bad idea to use public transportation.
8. Don't Antagonize The Police: Your personal safety is your number one priority, and antagonizing the police force is the number one thing you don't want to do. If they talk to you, listen and answer honestly. Explain that you just want to get away from the riot. In most cases they will point you to a safe area. In the worst case, they will take you as a rioter (see point 9).
Now, these are all used to avoid being in trouble in a riot, but sometimes you cannot avoid being caught in. The following 3 points are things to do if you end up being in distress.
9. If You Are Mistaken As A Rioter: Do not resist! If you go peacefully you will not be roughed or hit by the police force. Follow their instructions. Police officers usually only arrest people who attack them or who vandalize the area, and so if you "play nice" you will be left alone. If you are arrested, then simply explain your situation as calmly as possible. Again, your personal safety is the most important thing, and even though it sucks, you are safe while arrested.
10. If You Are Sprayed With Chemicals: If you are sprayed by tear gas or other chemicals, a simple solution of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) with water will usually wash off the chemicals. In fact, if you can it could be a good idea to keep a bottle of that solution with you so that you can apply it to affected areas as soon as you are sprayed. This solution does not work on pepper spray. If you are hit by pepper spray, find a water source as quickly as possible and wash it off. Keeping a bottle of water with you also greatly helps.
11. If You Are Stuck In Your Car: First of all, no matter what happens, don't run over rioters, as this will put you in the "oh-so-definitely-screwed" zone with both the rioters and the police, greatly reducing your chances of survival. Remain in your car while the riot continues around you, as your car becomes a shelter from projectiles. Do not attempt to respond if someone hits your vehicle. If, however, your car becomes a target for vandalism (i.e. several people are targeting it) then abandon your vehicle and move away as fast as possible without running. Pulling your shirt over your head can help protect you. Before thinking about the cost of your wrecked car, think about what can happen; cars are regularly torched and smashed in a riot, and if you are stuck in one you can become severely hurt or you may die.
Hopefully none of you will need to use any of these tips, but with the amount of riots we've had so far in 2012 increases the likelihood of an all-out riot breaking out around you.
This is it for today, readers. Stay safe, stay cool.
- Snowman
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