Damage Control
Page 2 of 3
To get into a damage control position
- Drop to the ground before you are knocked out or thrown there.
- Lie on one side and curl into a ball or fetal position, tuck your chin and pull your knees up tight to your chest.
- Protect you head and other vital areas (see below for techniques).
- Yell or scream to alert others, or, if deemed necessary, be silent and play dead.
Protect your Head. To survive, you must remain conscious. To remain conscious, you must protect your head. The brain sort of floats inside the skull and is able to move around a little. Due to being attached to the spine, the brain may move sideways more than it may move forward or backward. The space between the brain and skull is narrow on the sides, so side impacts mean the brain has a more of a chance of crashing into the skull. Also, the sides of the skull are relatively thin, especially at the temple areas. This all means that it is vital that you protect the sides of the head.
- While lying on your side in the fetal position, hold your arm with the fist to the sides of the head.
- The elbows will point forward to protect against blows to the face.
- Place the lower arm under your head, between the side of your head and the ground, so its fist is protecting the back of your neck.
- Position the upper arm so the forearm arm lies across the ear, with the hand held in a fist to protect your fingers and positioned over the neck to protect the neck and spine. Positioning the arms this way protects your face, forehead, and back of neck and spine.
- The top of your head will be exposed, but, being a thick, boney, spherical shape, it has the ability to take more blows than do the sides, front, or back of the skull.