The increased terror threat level has spread anxiety in Sweden and we have been advised to be more alert than usual. Anna Bergström is a former police officer and teaches in ongoing deadly violence, she believes that it is important that we are mentally prepared.
– We need to raise our eyes, be a bit in the game so that you don’t step straight into the threat if, against all odds, something were to happen, she says.
There are a few things to do to get mentally prepared, both short and long term. When you get to a place with a lot of people, you should check where there are escape routes. Some time before, you should also imagine how you would act if something were to happen.
– If you have no experience and haven’t thought about these things before, i.e. stuck your head in the sand and plodded along, then the probability that it will go well is much lower than otherwise, says the security expert.
“Escape and raise the alarm”
If there is a terrorist attack, the first thing you should do is locate the danger and run away from it. When you escape, you can alert others to the danger using your voice and try to get as many people with you as possible. It is good if you spread out so that there is no stoppage anywhere. If you can’t run away, you should hide.
– The important thing is that you are not seen. Also try to be as quiet as possible, turn off your mobile phone and try to keep calm, says Anna Bergström.
You should also raise the alarm for help, but you should do so only after you are safe. Also prepare mentally that you may have to fight for your life, even if it is the last resort. These behaviors help people in dangerous situations.
Anna Bergström emphasizes that what helps the most is being mentally prepared, there is research that shows that.
– The probability of that happening will not increase just because you know this, she says.