COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS : ANTI-HIJACKING COURSE

On Saturday, 9th April, the Daniel and Friends Fund was excited to host its very first Anti-Hijacking Course, facilitated by Robert Martin of Global Learning Services, an ex-member of the South African Police Services. 

The Workshop covered the following :

Criminals and their Tactics :

• Criminals work either on their own or as part of a gang, most gangs of which work for syndicates
• Criminals approach their lifestyle as if it were a profession, affording it almost the same amount of planning and commitment, particularly as motives predominantly revolve around money

Reasons for Hijacking:

• Anti-theft devices make simply stealing the cars harder
• Although hijacking is far more risky for the criminal, the financial gain makes it worth it
• Hijacking is considered a petty crime so, if caught, the criminal would face a lesser sentence
• Hijacked vehicles can be sold for an instant R5 000.00 (sometimes more if "ordered" by a syndicate) and can take less than 2 hours to be stripped by the "chop shop"

Types of Hijacking:

• Spontaneous - usually carried out by an opportunist who spots a negligent victim
• Planned - a specific car "ordered" (usually through a syndicate). This particular type of hijacking usually requires observing the target's routine for some time first. 

Most common places for Hijackings to take place :

• When target is leaving/returning home
• Entrance/exit to place of work
• Intersections
• Petrol stations
• Outside shops, roadhouses, etc
• Parking lots/garages at shopping centres
• Narrow, isolated streets
• High-crime areas
• Popular locations eg. "lovers' lane", etc

Tactics hijackers use to fool their victims :

• Dressing up as police officers, hitch-hikers, car guards, street hawkers at intersections NB If a police vehicle instructs you to pull off the road, indicate to them that you are going to drive to the nearest police station and they should follow
• Pretending to be good Samaritans, eg. trying to pull you off the road by telling you your wheel is flat
• Faking an accident scene NB In the case of arriving at an accident scene, never leave your vehicle.  Stay alert and call an ambulance from your car.
• Pretending to need directions
• Bumping into your vehicle

Hijackers Planning :

• The hijacker will observe your routine and plan ahead - make a habit of occasionally changing your route, etc. particularly if your routine involves things like banking large amounts of cash on set days, etc
• Hijackers will often work in a team so that one members can distract the victim
• They will always target the driver as he/she has control of the vehicle

Weapons most often used :

• Firearms (including homemade firearms)
• Knives
• Batons
• Stones
• Tear gas or pepper spray
• Spark plug (to shatter the window)

Safety and Prevention :

• Always plan your route ahead of time and identify alternate routes in the event that you find your safety feeling compromised
• Avoid routine
• Always tell colleagues/family where you are going and which route you will be going
• When approaching your vehicle, have your keys ready in your hand and scan the area around your vehicle. Enter and exit vehicle as quickly as possible
• Leave your window/s (particularly the passenger window) with a 5-10cm gap. This reduces the severity of the shattered window and might deter a hijacker.
• Advise colleagues/family when you have arrived at your destination
• Make a habit of scanning your surroundings for possible threats, particularly when at intersections, and where possible advise your passenger to do the same.
• Refrain from using a cellphone while in your car.  Apart from being illegal, it is a driver's biggest distraction.
• Always keep your cellphone on your body, in case of being thrown out of the car

There are five stages of alert :

White :   when you are in your comfort zone, distracted and oblivious to your surroundings
Yellow : you are remotely aware but not perceiving danger
Orange : you are alert of non-specific danger
Red :      you are concerned and have reason to believe there is clear and present danger
Black :   you are under attack

Your vehicle :

• To be kept in good working order
• All valuables to be kept out of sight
• Weapons to be kept within reach
• Doors to be kept locked

Tactical driving when approaching an intersection :

• Reduce your speed slowly
• Pre-select your gears
• Maintain a "creep" distance between yourself and the car in front of you
• Constantly survey the area
• Allow for a survival space between yourself and the car in front of you once you have stopped
• Mentally prepare an escape plan
• When stopped, leave your car in first gear with your hand on the pulled up handbrake and your foot on the accelerator

What to do if a hijacker instructs you to exit your vehicle :

• Raise both hands to shoulder height (never higher as this draws attention to yourself which in turn draws attention to the hijacker who will then panic and react)
• Always keep your right hand up in defence position
• Use only your left hand when given instructions - release your seatbelt with your left hand and unlock and open your door with your left hand
• Slowly get out of your vehicle
• Tell the hijacker what you are doing as you perform each action
• Exit to the right, rear of the vehicle
• Do not attempt to make eye contact with the hijacker but instead keep your focus down while trying to observe any marks of identification
• Always answer the hijacker truthfully

What to do if the hijacker has a firearm pointed at you :

• Do not do anything to alarm the hijacker (eg. scream, try to hit the firearm from him)
• Never initiate any movement without instruction from the hijacker
• Obey all instructions
• Do not make eye contact
• Move your hands only when instructed

After the hijacking :

• Get to a safe place and report the incident immediately
• Seek professional intervention, particularly if a child/children were in the vehicle at the time
• Be aware of the signs and symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

 

We wish to thank Robert for his hugely informative workshop and encourage

community members to contact him on robert@emergencysa.com for further information.

 

Caring For Siblings of Children with Special Needs / Sibling Day April 2016

It goes without saying that caring for your child with special needs is a journey often filled with uncertainty, self-doubt and despair...all of which become more challenging when your child with special needs has neuro-typical siblings.  Knowing that those neuro-typical children often experience their own significant challenges as a result of having a brother or sister who is differently-abled, the Daniel and Friends Fund is passionate about dedicating a day, as often as we can, to "our siblings".  Exchanging bowling balls and pins for putt-putt clubs and the green this time round, the conservative couple of hours where the focus was just on the siblings was, yet again, a gesture rewarded with carefree smiles and a thoroughly enjoyable morning. 

Before we head off to the pictures, an informative and easy-read article from KidsHealth :

"As a parent, you want to give equal attention to all of your children. But when parenting a child with special needs, that can be hard. Your child with a disability needs you. But so do his or her siblings. It may feel like there's never enough of your attention to go around — and your other kids might begin to feel left out.  It can help to understand what your typically developing child or teen might be thinking and feeling. Kids love their siblings. They want to understand why there are some things that a sibling with a disability cannot do, and how they can help. By answering questions in an age-appropriate way and being open and honest, you can help ease worries, clear up any confusion, and maybe even give your other kids a chance to help out. Kids who feel understood, loved, and secure about their place in the family can thrive — and the bond between siblings can grow.
Here's what might come up with kids at different ages and stages of development.

Preschoolers (Ages 3 to 5)

By nature, preschoolers feel that everything is about them and what they want — from the game they want to play to the toy they ask for at the store. So helping them understand why a sibling might need more of your more time or attention can be hard.  It can help to set aside one-on-one time with your child. This can be a challenge, but even a few minutes spent playing ball or allowing your little one to "help" you in the kitchen at mealtime can provide the mommy or daddy time that your child needs.
When kids ask about their sibling's abilities, explain the condition using simple language in a way they can understand. Use real words, like "cerebral palsy" instead of "boo boo." This prevents confusion in kids who get their own cuts and scrapes — you don't want them to be overly concerned about a bump on the head.  Say something like, "Your brother has trouble walking because he has cerebral palsy." If your child asks, "What is cerebral palsy?," state in simple terms that it's a condition that makes it harder for a child to do the same things other kids do.  Kids this age are also "magical thinkers" — so, the drink poured at the tea party is very hot and the monsters under the bed are very real. When kids have a sibling with special needs, this type of thinking can mean that they worry that the disability is an illness, like the common cold. Reassure your child that he or she cannot "catch" a condition like cerebral palsy, and that nothing either child did created the condition — it is no one's "fault."

Big Kids (Ages 6 to 12)

By elementary school, kids start to better understand the "why" of a diagnosis. Expect that you will get more complicated questions, and don't be afraid to answer them.  For example, for questions about a sibling with limited mobility, your explanation might expand to "His legs don't work because he was born with a health problem." The next question might be, "Will he ever walk?," to which you need to answer honestly: "I don't know if he will, but we're going to try to help him do that. That's why he has therapy."  Your child might be sad or worried about his or her sibling's health. But playing together and enjoying each other's company can help. Encourage your typically developing child to read books to his or her sibling, build block towers together, and do craft activities with fingerpaint or clay.  This is also the age when kids start having to explain their sibling's condition to their friends. Some friends might ask rude questions or even participate in bullying behavior such as name-calling, which can leave your child feeling embarrassed, angry, or guilty.  You can help your child weather these encounters by rehearsing some conversations. If someone asks, "What's wrong with your sister?," for example, your child can simply say: "She has cerebral palsy." Or if a classmate uses an unkind term to describe the sibling with special needs, let your other kids know that as hard as it is, they must not act out in anger. Instead, help them explain the situation: "It's harder for my sister to learn new things than it is for you or me, but that doesn't make it OK to say mean things about her."  Sibling rivalry also builds at this age, so don't be surprised if kids act jealous of their brother or sister with special needs. After all, they see their sibling getting extra attention, or being allowed to stay up later or excused from doing chores.  Comparisons are normal, but explain that while it seems unfair, this is simply the way it has to be. Just as a child might feel that the sibling is getting extra attention, there are many opportunities that the sibling with special needs cannot have. Fair does not always mean equal.

Teens (Ages 13 and Up)

During the teen years, siblings often feel increased pressure to care for their siblings with special needs. You might rely on your teen to babysit or help more with chores around the house. Teens might feel pressure to take on more responsibility than they should at this age.
As a parent, make sure you are not asking too much of your teen. Make certain responsibilities, such as babysitting, a choice. This will help teens feel that they have control over how much they help out. For example: "It would be great if you could watch your sister, but if you want to go out with your friends, that's OK."  Also, be sure that you don't expect too much when it comes to chores, schoolwork, or extracurricular activities. Typically developing children sometimes feel extra pressure to be perfect so that their parents don't have to worry about them.  Teens are struggling with their independence from parents. And a teen who has a sibling with special needs also may struggle with the idea of life apart from that sibling. Let your teen know that wanting more independence and experiencing more of the world is normal, healthy, and encouraged, within safe limits.  As teens near adulthood, they might start to worry about the future, and wonder who is going to help care for the sibling once they've moved out — or if something happens to you. Reassure your teen that whatever the future holds, help with caring for his or her sibling will depend on how much your teen is comfortable taking on. Then, have a plan ready for when changes come that will benefit all members of the family.

Handling Strong Emotions

Just as parenting a child with special needs can be joyful and frustrating, kids and teens who have a brother or sister with special needs will have ups and downs.  Some siblings roll with the punches and don't let much bother them, while others are more sensitive and take things to heart. These kids need healthy ways to work through their emotions. Writing in a journal, being physically active, or participating in creative arts like dance or music are good ways to handle strong emotions.  But if you notice changes in your child's sleep routine, appetite, mood, or behavior, it could be a sign of anxiety, depression, or another problem. If this happens, seek help from a mental health professional for your child."

 

 

Dad, Toby, taking on both sons...Caleb and Troy. Troy ready

with his "game face".

 

And from the get-go it was down to serious competitive business

with the dads as Bernard Smit gentle coaxes his ball along.

 

One of the many benefits of our Sibling Day - to encourage

siblings to form bonds with other siblings...sometimes simply

knowing that there is someone experiencing the same things

you are going through, is a comfort all on its own.

 

A bit of precious one-on-one coaching between

father and son.

Nina's lovely champion, Saskia...at Daniel and Friends Fund

friendship knows no age difference.

And the overall winner of the day - Well Done Daniel Smit!