Explosions can be some of the most damaging and destructive weapons in the terrorist arsenal. They can destroy lives, information, and evidence. Bombing is, statistically, the most frequently used tactic in terrorist attacks. Even on those occasions when an explosive device is spotted ahead of time, there may not always be enough time to call in the bomb squad to defuse or dismantle the bomb.
Explosions may result from a variety of causes: planted plastic explosives, grenades, car bombs, suicide bombers, or any number of things. If you are trapped in a confined space with a powerful bomb, there is obviously no guarantee- and little chance-that you can completely avoid serious harm or death. However, depending on the situation and the available time, there are several steps that you can take which can help you to minimize your injuries and possibly save your life.
IF DETONATION IS IMMINENT
If a grenade has been thrown or a suicide bomber is about to detonate his or her package, drop to the ground and do your best to protect your head and vital organs.
IF THERE IS TIME BEFORE DETONATION
If a bomb has been planted and wired to go off within a specific time frame, take advantage of every moment you have.
DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM THE BOMB.
If you know where the bomb is, put as much distance as you can between you and the impending explosion. If you know how much time is left before detonation, run as far and as fast as you can and do your best to reach cover before the explosion. If you are in a large, open space and cannot reach adequate cover before the blast, protect yourself as described below.
PLACE OBSTACLES BETWEEN YOU AND THE EXPLOSIVE DEVICE.
Anything you can use to shield yourself from the blast can help. If the bomb is in an adjoining room, close and blockade the door with large objects such as file cabinets, tables, or chairs. Be aware, of course, anything you place in the path of the blast can itself become a dangerous projectile. A door may be blown off its hinges, for example, and come hurtling your way.
TAKE COVER.
Get under or behind anything you can-a table, a door-or move around a corner from the explosion. If there is nothing sturdy to hide behind or under, place a blanket or coat over your head to protect your eyes from flying debris.
PROTECT YOURSELF.
Whether or not you are able to take cover, do your best to protect your head and your vital organs. If you are in the open and within close proximity to the explosion, drop to the ground and position yourself so that your head is away from the origin of the blast. Lie flat on your stomach with your elbows held in tight at your sides in order to protect your organs. Do your best to cover your ears and head with your hands.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
If a hostile is holding a grenade or other bomb in a crowded public area, it may be possible to take the hostile down, falling on the hostile and grenade and using the hostile to shield you and any innocent bystanders from the blast. The explosion may send you flying, but the hostile and ground should absorb most of the damage. Use the terrorist’s weapon against the terrorist. On Day 5, hostages were taken at the Ontario Airport. Terrorists were clothed in vests wired with explosives. Agents Bauer and O’Brian realized that one of the detonators on the vests was wireless and likely controlled by the lead terrorist. Bauer’s cell phone was then successfully reconfigured to the detonator’s frequency and Bauer was able to explode a hostile’s vest-and the hostile wearing it-from behind closed doors. This confused and disoriented the hostiles-striking terror and fear into the terrorists themselves.
Shield your eyes and ears. Damage to hearing can be serious and permanent and debris in your eyes can blind you. Case in point: On Day 5, Agent Bauer found himself in close proximity to a bomb that was about to detonate and was forced to use a variety of these techniques in order to survive. Bauer was in the course of trying to take down former CTU director and Omicron executive Christopher Henderson, who was involved in a conspiracy with President Charles Logan to provide Sentox nerve gas to terrorist groups. Henderson locked Bauer in a bunker with a bomb set to detonate in moments. With no escape route or windows, Bauer quickly barricaded the area where the bomb was located and found a loose tile in the floor. He managed to crawl under the floor and seek cover there until the blast had passed. His quick thinking paid off and he was minimally injured.
