<div><p>You never want it to come to this, but there could be situations in your life that require life-saving measures. </p><p>A car accident, a mugging, kidnapping, they all happen to unsuspecting people. It's easy to sit at home and say, "I totally know what to do in an emergency." But more often than not, you actually aren't. </p><p>It's always a smart idea to have some life-saving self-defense tactics in your arsenal, so read through this list and take note of what you see. Hopefully it'll never come to this, but they could save your life. </p><p><strong>1. Use your head</strong></p><div><figure><amp-anim src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/giphy-3.gif" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-anim></figure></div><p>Head butts are more effective than kicks and punches in a lot of cases. If you head-butt your attacker on the bridge of the nose you can seriously harm them. </p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p><strong>2. Scatter your things if you're being abducted</strong></p><div><figure><amp-anim src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/raw.gif" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-anim></figure></div><p>If you're being abducted, this leaves behind evidence that can help investigators. Just don't leave your cellphone behind!</p><p></p><p><strong>3. Keep moving.</strong></p><div><figure><amp-anim src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/giphy-4.gif" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-anim></figure></div><p>The hardest target is a moving target. Keep moving your feet or struggling. It makes it harder to be a target. </p><p></p><p><strong>4. Know the pressure points</strong></p><div><figure><amp-anim src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/5960034a-10d8-46d1-b21f-1a5cf679e0ce.gif" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-anim></figure></div><p>A couple smart hits is better than many ill-advised ones. Know where the best points of pain are on a body so you can fight smart. </p><p></p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p><strong>5. Head for the kitchen</strong></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/190rzax043q95jpg.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/190rzax043q95jpg_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/190rzax043q95jpg_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/190rzax043q95jpg_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></figure></div><p>If you're a victim of home invasion, head to the kitchen. You know where all your knives and other potential weapons are, but the intruder doesn't. </p><p></p><p><strong>6. Toss your valuables</strong></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/what_to_do_if_your_wallet_is_lost_stolen_or_missing.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/what_to_do_if_your_wallet_is_lost_stolen_or_missing_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/what_to_do_if_your_wallet_is_lost_stolen_or_missing_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/what_to_do_if_your_wallet_is_lost_stolen_or_missing_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/what_to_do_if_your_wallet_is_lost_stolen_or_missing_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/what_to_do_if_your_wallet_is_lost_stolen_or_missing_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/what_to_do_if_your_wallet_is_lost_stolen_or_missing_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/what_to_do_if_your_wallet_is_lost_stolen_or_missing_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/what_to_do_if_your_wallet_is_lost_stolen_or_missing_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/what_to_do_if_your_wallet_is_lost_stolen_or_missing_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/what_to_do_if_your_wallet_is_lost_stolen_or_missing_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/what_to_do_if_your_wallet_is_lost_stolen_or_missing_GH_content_1550px.jpg 1550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></figure></div><p>Muggers don't really care about you. They want your money. If someone tries to mug you and take your wallet, toss it as far as you can. Chances are, they'll care more about the wallet than you. This gives you time to run. </p><p></p><p><strong>7. Hit all the buttons</strong></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/d39be83b-be71-4a62-aeae-97709e4dbcb2.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/d39be83b-be71-4a62-aeae-97709e4dbcb2_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/d39be83b-be71-4a62-aeae-97709e4dbcb2_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/d39be83b-be71-4a62-aeae-97709e4dbcb2_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></figure></div><p>If you're feeling threatened in an elevator, hit a bunch of buttons. There are more chances for escape, and if you're being actively attacked then there are more chances for someone to find you. </p><p></p><p><strong>8. Don't be afraid to scream</strong></p><div><figure><amp-anim src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/giphy-5.gif" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-anim></figure></div><p>Whistles don't signify the same sense of urgency. Shout words like "ATTACK" "911" or "EMERGENCY!" If this isn't working, yell things out of the ordinary such as "THAT'S MY SANDWICH DON'T TOUCH IT." Sure, it sounds ridiculous, but it will grab people's attention to your situation. A good phrase for kids to scream if they are being taken is "YOU'RE NOT MY DADDY!"</p><p></p><p><strong>9. Know how to escape zipties</strong></p><div><div><div><amp-youtube height="9" width="16" layout="responsive" data-videoid="1ZvEXcRE4BU"></amp-youtube></div></div></div><p></p><p><strong>10. If you're being followed, change your route. </strong></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/stalking.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/stalking_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/stalking_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/stalking_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/stalking_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/stalking_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/stalking_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/stalking_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/stalking_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/stalking_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/stalking_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/stalking_GH_content_1550px.jpg 1550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/stalking_GH_content_1630px.jpg 1630w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></figure></div><p>If you're on foot and think you're being followed, walk to a public place with lots of people around. If you're in your car, drive to the nearest police station. </p><p></p><p><strong>11. Take a self-defense course</strong></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/cde0l8nhs1sb1ug3qwwb.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/cde0l8nhs1sb1ug3qwwb_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></figure></div><p>Having some basic self-defense moves in your arsenal is always a good idea. Community centers often offer courses like this for free. </p><p></p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p><strong>13. Kick out the knees</strong></p><div><figure><amp-anim src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/9d841f80-47fe-4d2b-891f-790bcc42f86d.gif" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-anim></figure></div><p>Using the base of your feet to kick out your attacker's knees is almost impossible for them to block. Blowing out a someone's knees can give you the perfect chance to get away. If nothing else, it will slow down your attacker because of the injury. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p></div>