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SALT LAKE CITY — People can prepare for a hostage situation and stay alive during such a crisis, if they remember the tools to survive.
The Sydney hostage crisis situation is rare, said a retired FBI crisis negotiator from Utah. Juan Becerra said people really can prepare for the worst case scenario if they remember the tools already at their disposal to stay alive in that situation.
It took more than 16 hours to diffuse the hostage situation in Sydney. After hours of chaos and fear, two of 17 hostages did not make it out alive from the Lindt Chocolat Cafe.
Becerra said people need to be more aware of their surroundings.
"It's a very intense situation which naturally brings everyone's emotions to a heightened state," said Becerra.
For 10 years, Becerra worked as a crisis negotiator trying to talk hostage takers out of any intention to harm their hostages. Becerra said hostages can help by staying calm.
"As hard as that is," he said. "You have to harness and manage your emotions to the point where you are able to comply" with the hostage taker's orders.
Becerra said it is important hostages do not call attention to themselves.
"It can draw personal violence to yourself," he said. "Or, it can actually make the entire situation more volatile."
How am I going to protect myself in that situation without drawing attention to myself? Or appearing to be aggressive to the individual who is holding me hostage.
–Juan Becerra, retired FBI crisis negotiator from Utah
Upon first arriving to the scene, police quickly assess the hostage-takers motives and behaviors Bcerra said.
Hostage-takers always have a goal and their actions are sometimes financially or politically motivated. Some want to terrorize people by creating chaos, or kidnap someone for self-gratification.
Becerra said having this information will help a hostage focus on things that can be helpful later.
"How am I going to protect myself in that situation without drawing attention to myself," said Becerra. "Or appearing to be aggressive to the individual who is holding me hostage."
Becerra said hostages can focus on details of the person holding them hostage.
"Scars, marks, tattoos, height, weight or clothing that stands out," he said. "If you're laying on your stomach and all you can see are the shoes, what type of shoes were they wearing?"
Becerra also said to focus on the weapons being used.
In today's culture of tech toys and cell phones, Becerra said people aren't paying attention to their surroundings and often miss the simple things that can help us during crucial moments.
"When I'm in public," he said. "I'm always watching what's going on. It just becomes part of you."
