Jason Evans is the publisher of the Arctic Sounder. - Arctic Sounder Photo / for Alaska Newspapers

Send this article to Promobot

OPINION: From the Publisher: Kidnapping a wake-up call for all Alaska

February 10th 6:01 pm | Jason Evans Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

This week in Anchorage, a young, 18-year-old girl named Samantha Koenig was kidnapped and abducted from her work in a coffee stand near Alaska Club on Tudor Road. This abduction happened around 8 p.m. in the evening, in a fairly public place, where there was bound to be people near Alaska Club or people driving by on the busy Tudor Road.

The Anchorage police have said little about it. There is a video but they have not released it to the public. Many people are watching this event and are jumping in to help in anyway they can. They have donated money; they voluntarily drive around looking for her and are hanging signs and searching throughout the community. People in Anchorage and beyond are wishing they could do more and are at a loss as to how or why this happened. Just as we prepare for a camping or boating trip, we must also be prepared keep ourselves safe in all situations.

As a father of an 11-month-old daughter and an uncle to seven young nieces who are all growing up in rural Alaska, I have been thinking about what a young person can do to fight back in this type of situation or just be prepared when travelling to larger cities or unfamiliar places. This is what I found:

Have a plan

First try to keep yourself out of dangerous situations. For example, if you're traveling away from home, stay in public places and areas known to be safe. Use the buddy system and travel in pairs. Always let your friends and family know where you are going and when you should be expected home.

Be prepared to resist

Carry mace, use your keys to fight off an attacker, take a self-defense class, or learn some defensive moves from your older siblings.

Run Away

Do whatever you can to get away. Don't look back and don't stop until you're in a safe place. Your chances of surviving are much greater if you don't get in a vehicle with a stranger.

Don't be embarrassed to make a scene — yell and scream to get the attention of others.

Fight like your life depends on it, as it may.

 


Copyright 2012 The Arctic Sounder is a publication of Alaska Media, LLC. This article is © 2012 and limited reproduction rights for personal use are granted for this printing only. This article, in any form, may not be further reproduced without written permission of the publisher and owner, including duplication for not-for-profit purposes. Portions of this article may belong to other agencies; those sections are reproduced here with permission and Alaska Media, LLC makes no provisions for further distribution.