3 Ways to Escape a Minefield

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-01 14:11

Lands filled with deadly mines in North Korea, Afghanistan, India, Vietnam, Iraq and elsewhere claim the lives of thousands of people every year. Even mines that were decades old were as dangerous as they were when they were first planted, capable of exploding at the slightest pressure. Read on to find out how to safely escape the minefield and avoid getting into the minefield in the first place.

Step

Method 1 of 3: Observing the Situation

Step 1. Look for signs of a minefield

Most minefields are hidden, but if you know the characteristics of minefields, you will have a better chance of avoiding them. If you are in a mined area, don't let your guard down even for a moment. Keep an eye out for the following signs:

• Trap wires (trip wires). These objects are usually not clearly visible, so you will have to look closer to the ground. The wire used is usually thin enough that it is almost impossible to see.

• Roadwork signs. These signs include paved, freshly dredged areas, road patches, potholes and so on. This could be a sign that there are mines placed nearby.

• Signals or markings on trees, stakes, or posts. The army that laid the mines might mark minefields to protect their own soldiers.

• Animal carcasses. Cows and other animals often trigger mine explosions.

• Damaged vehicles. An abandoned car, truck or other vehicle may have detonated a mine and that means there are more mines nearby.

• Suspicious objects in the trees and bushes. Not all mines are buried, and not all UXO (Unexploded Ordnance -- that is, the remnants of a failed, unexploded war weapon) lies on the ground.

• Disturbance in the tire tracks of vehicles that have passed previously or tire tracks that suddenly stop without any explanation.

• Wires coming out of the sides of the road. These wires could be half-buried firing wires.

• Strange features on the ground or patterns that do not exist in nature. Plant growth may wilt or change color, rain may wash away some of the mine cover, the mine cover may sink or crack at the edges, or the material covering the mine may look like a pile of dirt.

• Civilians stay away from certain places or buildings. The locals usually know where the mines or UXO are. Ask the civilians to determine the exact location.

  

  Step 2. Stop immediately

  Once you realize you may be in danger, stay still. Don't take another step. Take the time to assess your situation and devise a plan to save yourself. From this moment on, your movements should be slow, careful and thoughtful.

  

  Step 3. Warn your colleagues

  As soon as you sense that you are in danger, make sure everyone knows about it so they can stop moving before someone triggers an explosive eruption. Shout "Don't move!" and ordered all not to move their feet. If you are the lead in this situation, you should guide them on how to safely leave the minefield. Make sure the whole team has the same understanding, because one wrong move can get everyone killed.

  

  Step 4. Do not lift any objects off the ground

  Many mines are made as traps. You think you're holding up a helmet, radio, or military artifact, but there's a mine inside. Even toys and food are often used as bait. If you never drop the item, then don't pick it up.

  Method 2 of 3: Get out of the Minefield Safely

  

  Step 1. Walk backwards to get out of the mined area

  If you suspect that you have entered a mined area, whether it's because you saw a warning sign, saw a mine or an object that could potentially be mine, or because there has been an explosion, stay calm and carefully walk out of harm's way by stepping in the footsteps. Yourself. Don't look back if possible.

  • Look behind you as you walk, and slowly place your foot exactly where it was before.

  • Continue until you are sure you are out of the danger zone, such as when you have reached a highway or other busy area.

  

  Step 2. Investigate the state of the soil

  If for some reason you have to move forward, or can't see your trail as a guide when walking backwards, you should investigate the presence of mines on the ground and move forward little by little. Examine the ground very carefully with your hands or feet; You can also use a knife or other object to gently scrape the area an inch at a time.

  • Poke from a diagonal direction, rather than directly from above, as mines are usually detonated from the pressure at the top of the mine.
  • Once you've cleared a small area, come to the front and continue your examination. The safest way is to go through the field very slowly in a prone state compared to normal walking.

  

  Step 3. Ask for help if you have given up

  If you're not really sure where you've been before, and you don't dare to check the grounds, don't move. Just one span can affect life and death. Make a call for help or ask the people around you to help you.

  • If you are alone and can use a cell phone, make a call for help.

  • Don't use a two-way radio unless absolutely necessary. Signals from radios can cause certain types of mines or UXOs to detonate accidentally.

  • If you can't reach anyone, wait. Don't try to run and don't try to find your way out unless you know what you're doing.

    

    Step 4. Watch for signs indicating that an explosion may occur

    When exiting a minefield, watch for signs that indicate a mine is about to explode. Listen to foreign voices. You may notice a faint clicking sound if a pressure plate has been pressed or the tilt rod has moved, or you may hear a pop from the exploding cap.. Also pay attention to the sensations you feel. For example, if you are very alert and move slowly you may be able to feel the tension from the trap wire.

    

    Step 5. Get down on the ground as soon as an explosion is triggered

    The Americans call this move "hitting the deck" which is essentially a down motion so fast that you're hidden from view or danger. If you notice any of the signs from the previous step, or if someone nearby is shouting a warning that they've set off a mine, get down to the ground as quickly as possible. You may only have one second before the mine explodes, but if you use this one second wisely, you can survive serious injury or death. Mine blasts point upwards so it's safer for you to stay close to the ground.

    • If possible, drop your body backwards to protect your upper body as much as possible from mine shards. While falling on other mines is definitely not impossible, the area behind you is the safest place to fall, because you've just walked in there.

    • Don't try to run away from the explosion; mine projectiles will shoot from the mine at a speed of several hundred meters per second and the casualty radius - an area a certain distance from the mine where you would be injured - can be 30.5 meters or more.

    

    Step 6. Mark the hazard and report its location to the appropriate authorities

    If you find a mine, make sure other people avoid it by marking it. Use internationally recognized symbols or signs, or use familiar local warnings. Make sure you are in a safe area before trying to build a warning sign. Record the location of the hazard and report it to the local police, military or mine disposal.

    Method 3 of 3: Avoiding Minefields

    

    Step 1. Learn about landmines

    Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) is the term used to describe any type of explosive weapon such as bombs, grenades and artillery shells, which have been used but have not exploded - another term "dud" - and have the potential to explode. Mines are sometimes considered a type of UXO, and although mines are the most frequently highlighted by the media, all types of UXO are dangerous. In some parts of the world, UXO apart from mines is the most dangerous.

    

    Step 2. Study the history of an area

    Whenever you travel to an unfamiliar place, studying the history of the area is a wise move to determine if there is a risk of minefields there. Areas experiencing armed conflict are clearly at high risk, but landmines and UXOs remain dangerous even after the long war is over.

    For example in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, millions of mines and bombs that failed to explode remain. Even in Belgium - an area that has been war-free for a long time - in recent years officers there have removed the hundreds of tons of UXO left over from World War I and World War II

    

    Step 3. Obey warning signs

    While you can't rely on the belief that all minefields are marked, you should definitely stay away from marked minefields. The internationally recognized symbols for the minefield include a skull with two crossed bones and a red triangle. The signs are often, though not always, red and usually read "MINES" or "DANGER".

    • In the absence of signs, artificial warning signs are often used, such as painted stones (red usually indicates the boundary of a minefield and white indicates safe passage), piles of rocks, flags on the ground, tied grass, or ribbons around an area. certain.

    • Many minefields are not marked with warning signs, so don't take the absence of warning signs as an indication that the area is safe.

    

    Step 4. Ask the locals

    Mine warnings usually don't last long. Over time, plants, weather, animals and humans can damage or obscure these signs. In some areas, metal signs are a valuable building material and it is not uncommon to see warning signs of mines being used, for example, to patch metal roofs. However, locals usually know the common locations of mines and UXOs, so your best option when traveling to a potentially hazardous area is to ask the locals if the area is safe or, better yet, hire a guide.

    

    Step 5. Do not deviate from the paths that have been determined

    Except in active combat situations, if people are used to using a path, you can rest assured that the path is not mined. But just a little off the beaten path, there are dangers that may await you.

    Tips

    • Mines can be made of metal, plastic, or wood, so a metal detector won't really be able to warn you of the danger.
    • Landmines are found either in minefields or in mined areas. A minefield is an area with well-defined boundaries - however, these boundaries are not always obvious - which are mined, often in high density, usually to achieve defensive purposes. Mined areas, on the other hand, do not have clear boundaries so they usually cover a wider area than a minefield. Mined areas have low mine densities (there are one or two here and there) and are characteristic of guerrilla warfare situations.
    • While most people are familiar with pressure-detonated mines - usually triggered when stepped on by a person or by a vehicle - there are many different types of mines and other methods of detonation. Some are triggered by a release of pressure (such as when someone lifts an object from above the mine); others are triggered by trip-wires, vibrations, or magnetic trigger devices.
    • If in doubt, stay on paved roads because mines cannot be buried in asphalt. Always remember, however, that (often in active combat zones), mines can be placed in holes in the road, or trap wires can be laid in the middle of the highway to trigger the explosion of roadside mines.

    Warning

    • Never assume that a recently "cleaned" area is safe. Mine removal is a difficult and complex process, and it is not impossible for landmines to remain in officially cleared areas. One of the main reasons is that mines that have been in the ground for a long time can sink very deep. However, in a series of annual freeze-thaw cycles, the impetus of frozen ground water sometimes pushes these deep-seated mines to the surface.
    • Do not throw stones or try to shoot at a mine or UXO. If there are other mines in the vicinity, then the explosion of one mine can trigger a chain explosion reaction.
    • Make sure you don't drop or pull anything on the ground as you walk backwards.
    • Keep in mind that mines don't work like in the movies - you won't hear a 'click' or get a warning before the mine is active. You can't escape mines, especially bounding mines which use the main payload to lift the mine off the ground, before detonating a second charge that scatters metal balls or sharp mine shards in all directions. These fragments can travel faster than rifle bullets and can move in any direction.
    • Do not use a two-way radio when in a minefield. Signals from radios can cause certain types of mines or UXOs to detonate unintentionally. If there are other people in a minefield, stay at least 300 meters away before trying to radio for help. Signals from cell phones may also have the ability to accidentally trigger explosive devices (insurgents and terrorists have often used cell phones to detonate explosive devices from afar, but detonating this requires a signal).
    • Don't fiddle with mines or UXOs and don't try to destroy them unless you're properly trained and equipped.
    • Never intentionally enter a minefield or a minefield unless you are a trained and properly equipped sapper.