Hostage Situations Flashcards
What is a hostage situation
A situation in which a person is held and threatened by a subject to force demands on a third party, normally law enforcement
What is Stockholm Syndrome
Both hostages and captors develop positive feelings towards each other and may show negative feelings toward authorities and rescue efforts
What to do if faced with Stockholm Syndrome
Coast Guard Personnel will nurture Stockholm syndrome in an attempt to de-escalate the situation and ensure the safety of everyone
Commandants policy for hostage situations
- Notify Tacon.
- Request Hostage Negotiator
- Document events
- Establish security perimeter
- Establish and maintain contact with a hostage taker in an effort to de-escalate the situation
- Coast Guard personnel shall not solicit demands from the captor
- Coast Guard personnel shall not make promises or agree to any demands or concessions
- Coast Guard personnel shall not offer to speak face-to-face with the hostage taker or trade hostages
- Shall make no threats and shall reassure the hostage taker that no forceful actions will be taken
- Refer to hostages by name rather than the term hostage, humanizes the hostages
I.C.E.R.
Isolate (Isolate the threat and evacuate innocents)
Contain (Contain the threat and deny mobility whenever possible)
Evaluate (Evaluate the situation and who is important)
Report (Report to chain of chain and authorized authorities)
What can you do to increase your probability of survival as a hostage
- do not antagonize or threaten the captors
- do not panic or cry
- Nurture Stockholm syndrome
- present yourself as a person not an object -escape if there is a clear opportunity
What can you do as a BTM to increase the probability of survival for a hostage
- contain and isolate the situation
- notify BO/crew
- control communication with hostage takers
- use minimum force
- cooperate with trained negotiators
