HOW TO STAY SAFE WHEN PROTESTS TURN DANGEROUS
PROTESTS and public demonstrations can turn ugly fast, so here are expert strategies to keep you and your family safe when caught in the middle of a riot:
Stick to the edge of the crowd — and NEVER come between an angry mob and law enforcement. Buddy up and keep tabs on each other. If things get wild, duck into a doorway or alley to avoid getting caught up in the crush.
Don’t be a cowboy! This is not the time to wave firearms or taunt anyone, no matter where your sympathies lie. Remember that emotions run hot and it’s hard to tell the “good guys” from the “bad guys.”
If you are arrested by mistake, go calmly. If caught in a crush, grasp your wrists and brace your arms out in front of you, with head lowered, to create a wedge of breathing space.
Stay on your feet — but if you can’t, curl up against the side of a building while shielding your head and neck. If shooting breaks out, lie flat.
Don’t be a target. Dress conservatively and don’t carry fancy watches, jewelry, cellphones or handbags.
If you are in a car and a crowd approaches, turn the engine off. If you can, lock it and leave it. But walk, don’t run!
Observe curfews. Don’t be the one person who stands out.