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Vacation Safety: The dangers of being kidnapped

By Megan Roth

In yesterday's post I touched on the issues surrounding cruise ship safety. One of those issues? Getting lost at sea.

Next issue? Getting lost on land. Or, what if it goes one step further and you aren't lost, you're taken?

My sister went on a mission trip to Haiti three years ago and it changed her (not for better, not for worse…just changed). My mom recognized that change and signed up to go on the same mission trip in just a few weeks; unfortunately, it doesn't look like she'll be making it.

At present, the government has issued an advisory suggesting Americans avoid traveling to Haiti at all costs due to corrupt governmental infrastructure. How's this affect a mission trip, you ask? They're helping the country's citizens, wouldn't the government be thankful? You'd think, but that's the problem with having corrupt officials. There's no sort of increased protection offered to such missionaries (heck, sometimes the enforcing agents are the ones to commit crimes against them), which explains the increasing occurrence of Americans being kidnapped (in 2008 alone 25 Americans were kidnapped in Haiti).

And Haiti isn't the only country in which such threats exist. Obviously, we're all aware of the risks that exist for Americans traveling in & around the Middle East (there's a long history of Americans being kidnapped and tortured here); however, were you aware that such risks exist even closer to home?

Mexico's border towns are growing more and more risky, and, in turn, the crimes against Americans that occur there are becoming increasingly prevalent and severe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cO0OxmtKog

But still, don't be fooled: Mexico and Haiti don't stand alone. The potential for Americans to be kidnapped exists all around the globe.

Remember Natalie Holloway – the teenage girl who went missing in Aruba while she was on vacation with her high school class? It's a tragedy, no doubt; however, Holloway isn't the only young girl to have gone missing in the Caribbean. In fact, there's a long history of young girls being kidnapped and either A) being held ransom or B) being sold off into a sort of slave-trade.

And, unfortunate as it is, this isn't something you can prevent. People will say 'Oh, we'll just stick together and we'll be fine.' Others carry mace and assume that will prevent them from all potential predators; still others act as though they're invincible and don't even attempt to arm themselves with any sort of protection.

Stupid, folks – this is just nonsense and it's stupid. In reality, there is no way to protect yourselves against such crimes (duh – don't you think those who have been kidnapped would have avoided it if they could?!). Instead, the only way to avoid such situations is to not put yourselves there to start with.

I'm not saying to forego all plans of traveling to another country – not at all. Rather, I'm suggesting you take a long, hard look at where you're going before you actually go. Know your destination's history (in terms of crime/violence against Americans (how and why they occur; where and when they're most likely to take place)). Say you've done your research and still plan on going; that's your decision – but make it with your eyes wide open.

Be as smart as you can reasonably be. Gauge the risks involved and know that there's no real way to prevent kidnappings and other crimes from occurring in certain countries (as they often happen in broad daylight and in the middle of crowds). If someone in such situations wants to take you, odds are they're going to take you. Unfortunate as it is, you can't stop them – the best you can do is avoid such situations in the first place.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Megan Roth

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on March 04, 2009 (boomark / email).