What should you do if you are taken hostage?

Cooperating with the hostage takers is often advised as it can help ensure the safety of the hostages. During a hostage situation, the priority is to de-escalate the situation and avoid provoking the hostage takers. By maintaining calm and being compliant, hostages may be perceived as less of a threat, which can potentially lead to a safer resolution. Showing cooperation can help the hostage takers feel more in control and may lead to a higher chance of being released unharmed.

Attempting to escape, making loud calls for help, or ignoring the situation could provoke the hostage takers, escalate tensions, or increase risk to oneself and others. Therefore, cooperation is considered a more strategic and safer approach in such critical scenarios.