10 amenazas que nunca debería intentar superar

Tomar situaciones de emergencia. Ya sea un tsunami , un tirador activo o un oso grizzly , lo primero que normalmente hace la gente cuando se enfrenta a una amenaza es tratar de esquivar. Sin embargo, dirigirse a las colinas podría ponerlo en más peligro que acurrucarse en un lugar.

Kenny Rogers cantó: "Tienes que saber cuándo sostenerlos, saber cuándo retirarlos. Saber cuándo alejarse, saber cuándo correr". Sigue el ejemplo de "The Gambler" y echa un vistazo a 10 de las amenazas más peligrosas que nunca debes intentar escapar.

1. Un tornado
2. Un oso
3. La policía
4. Una inundación
5. perros agresivos
6. Una corriente de resaca
7. Un terremoto
8. Un tirador activo
9. Lobos
10. Un cocodrilo

La mayoría de los locos cazadores de tormentas que ves en la televisión saben lo suficientemente bien como para no tratar de escapar de un tornado. Solo intentan mantenerse lo suficientemente lejos de un tornado para evitar su ira. Para el resto de nosotros, los aficionados, lo mejor que podemos hacer es refugiarnos en el lugar. Las rutas de evacuación pueden obstruirse fácilmente con automóviles, especialmente en pueblos pequeños y áreas rurales con menos rutas de escape. Eso deja a las personas que intentan huir de un tornado en la posición más vulnerable de quedar atrapadas en sus automóviles cuando uno grande atraviesa el área [fuente: Terry-Cobo ].

La mejor opción es ir al sótano de tu casa, o al menos a la zona más cercana al suelo. Use almohadas y mantas para cubrirse de objetos que caen [fuente: Terry-Cobo ].

¿Alguna vez escuchaste el de Bob y Joe caminando por el bosque cuando se encuentran con un oso? Bob inmediatamente se prepara para correr atándose los zapatos. Joe dice: "¿Qué estás haciendo? No puedes correr más rápido que un oso". Bob responde: "No tengo que correr más rápido que él. ¡Solo tengo que correr más rápido que tú!"

Huir es un mal plan si te encuentras cara a cara con un oso pardo , negro o de cualquier otro tipo. Si bien los osos rara vez atacan, son animales salvajes y, por lo tanto, impredecibles. También pueden correr tan rápido como 30 millas (48 kilómetros) por hora [fuente: Servicio de Parques Nacionales ]. La buena noticia es que, por lo general, solo quieren que los dejen en paz. Si te encuentras con uno al aire libre, lo mejor que puedes hacer es retroceder lentamente mientras miras al animal y evitas el contacto visual directo.

Si el oso sigue siguiéndote, es probable que tengas que pasar a la ofensiva. Existen circunstancias limitadas en las que "hacerse el muerto" puede ayudarlo. Es decir, si te está evaluando un oso pardo o pardo que te ve como una amenaza para sus cachorros. Estos osos se encuentran comúnmente en el oeste de los EE. UU. y se distinguen de los osos negros por una joroba en el hombro y una cara "abombada" [fuentes: Murray ; PBS ].

En todas las demás circunstancias, es mejor ponerse agresivo. A pesar de su tamaño y fuerza, los osos de todos los colores son intimidados por ruidos fuertes y objetos peligrosos. Comience por hacerse lo más grande posible, por ejemplo, yendo a un terreno más alto. Grita al oso, agita un palo e incluso tírale piedras. Además, asegúrese de estar listo para usar ese spray para osos si el animal se acerca lo suficiente [fuentes: Servicio de Parques Nacionales ; Murray ].

When you fight the law, the law usually wins . Not only is running from the cops a bad idea, but it's also likely to get you in more trouble than you would be if you simply stuck around. In some jurisdictions, running could result in a resisting arrest or obstructing justice charge [source: Robinson].

The better course of action is to ask if you're being detained and simply walk away if the answer is "no." Even if you aren't doing anything wrong and think that the officer is exceeding his or her authority by stopping you for questioning, forcing you to empty your pockets or rifling around in your car, it's best to assert your objection and to calmly make clear that you don't consent to the officer's actions. Submit to a search or arrest, then challenge those actions in court if necessary [source: American Civil Liberties Union].

The best way to react to a severe flood situation is to do the exact opposite of what you would do in a tornado. In other words, seek the highest possible ground.

The inclination to run -- or drive -- away from rising flood waters is understandable, but it's also dangerous. As little as 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rising water can be enough to sweep a person off of his or her feet, while just 18 inches (46 centimeters) of rising water can carry a vehicle away [sources: National Weather Service, Tamayo].

Downed power lines from a hurricane or tsunami can still be live, leaving you one false move from being lit up like a firecracker on the Fourth of July. Hopping behind the wheel also poses its own set of hazards. Floodwaters may hide debris, potholes and other damage that could make roads impassable. If your car stalls, abandon it immediately and head for high ground [sources: National Weather Service, Tamayo].

Perhaps the best cure for a shy bladder is the sight of an aggressive dog barreling toward you at full tilt. If that doesn't make you question every decision you've made in your life, probably nothing will.

Though many people think certain breeds (like pit bulls and Rottweilers) are more aggressive than others, any dog can turn angry if surprised or threatened. A study of dog bite statistics from the 1980s to 2000s didn’t show any breed as being more dangerous than another. Whichever breeds happened to be most popular in a given period were the ones that showed up for most dog bites in that period [source: American Animal Hospital Association].

What everyone agrees is that a person faced with a threatening canine shouldn't try to run away. Doing so may simply provoke the animal to attack. Plus, you're not going to be able to outrun it. Instead, cover your eyes and stand still. (Dogs take staring as a challenge; also, you'll want to protect your face). Try not to make any noise. Hopefully, the dog will take you for a tree or log and leave you alone [source: Smith].

Most people won't actually try to run away from a rip current ; they probably hope to outswim it. An unexpectedly strong current that forms at low spots or breaks in a sandbar, a rip current can move at a speed of up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) per second. Swimming toward shore might be your first move when a leisurely dip in the ocean is threatened by a powerful current channel, but it could also be your last [sources: National Ocean Service, Popular Mechanics].

Experts say that the currents are tough to outswim, and those who try to do so may become fatigued (and risk drowning) before reaching dry land. Instead, swim parallel to the riptide. It's likely to be less than 100 feet (30 meters) wide. If that doesn't work, lie flat on your back and let the current take you away from shore until you've passed beyond it. Then try swimming around it or to shore [sources: National Ocean Service, Popular Mechanics].

As in all the other emergency scenarios we've gone through so far, it's important to remain calm when the earth starts a-shakin'. If you're indoors, get away from windows , drop under a sturdy table, desk or other protective area and cover your head with a pillow. Failing that, go to an interior wall in the house and protect your head with a pillow.

If you're outside, move to an open area that's away from buildings, power lines and other potential hazards that could be knocked down during an earthquake. If you're driving, get your vehicle out of traffic and park it somewhere that's also clear of trees, signs, traffic signals and light posts if possible [sources: CDEMA, California Department of Conservation].

Whatever you do, just don't run. Most earthquake injuries occur when people are hit by falling objects while trying to enter or exit a building.

Whether it's at a school, in a workplace or at a movie theater, an active gunman poses not only a serious threat, but also one that's largely unpredictable. Just like a roving bear or aggressive dog, a gunman's attention is likely to be drawn to moving objects. It's also impossible to outrun a bullet.

The FBI tells folks that the best response to an active shooter situation is "Run, Hide, Fight." But the "run" part of that plan is more about getting to a safe place than actually outrunning the gunman. The safest place may be outside of the building, but it may also be in a locked room or office or behind some sort of barricade. That's where the "hide" part comes in. Meanwhile, "fight" is a last resort that should be implemented only when there's no other option [sources: FBI, Precision Risk Management, University of Delaware].

The trouble with wolves is that they like to travel in packs in search of prey. If you happen upon them— or them upon you—running for your dear life is likely to make you look like potential prey. Fortunately, the chance of encountering wild wolves is pretty slim, and even if you do they won't usually pounce [source: Spector].

Wolves are hunters by nature. They're coursing predators that prefer to take their prey on the run and are unlikely to attack otherwise. However, it's best to take the experts at their word and avoid testing these animals. That means moving away slowly without making direct eye contact.

Despite their pack behavior, wolves prefer to be left alone by humans and can be easily frightened off if you do it correctly. If they advance, make yourself appear as big as possible and yell at the animals to try to scare them off. If all else fails, curl yourself into a ball, cover your face and wait (pray?) for the attack to be over [source: Spector].

Crocodile Dundee had a preternatural ability to lull crocs to sleep by making a strange inverted "surf's up!" hand gesture and weird noises. You are not Crocodile Dundee. If you come across a croc on a golf course or in your backyard, you are likely to run. That's a bad idea. It's only likely to aggravate the beast. Not to mention, a crocodile can run as fast as a human [source: Hickman].

The best course of action is to back away slowly and try not to attract any attention, which -- as you can tell by now -- is the "go-to" strategy for dealing with dangerous animals. If that doesn't work, go for the eyes. In 2011, an Australian miner named Eddie Sigai successfully fought off an attacking crocodile after being dragged underwater by one of the razor-toothed beasts. How'd Eddie pull it off? By making like a professional wrestler and gouging the croc in the eyes. Experts say it's one of few viable options, crocodiles jaws are too strong to unclench -- especially if you're trying to do it with one arm -- and its skin is thick enough to fend off ward off punching and stabbing [sources: Hickman, BBC].

Author's Note: 10 Threats You Should Never Try to Outrun

Here's one thing you can outrun: death by old age. A 2012 study out of Norway concluded that moderate runners can increase their life expectancy by more than five years. The common thinking that high-impact exercise like jogging does more harm than good to older folks simply isn't true, if you ask another set of researchers who assessed the correlation between exercise and osteoarthritis in 2013. They found that people who engaged in running were less likely to need hip and knee replacements. Looks like grannie needs a new pair of running shoes.

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