When Bombs Go Off
We experienced bombs in Kabul while living there for almost a decade. During the last year-and-a-half living in Ankara, eighteen bombs went off in our city. I decided I really needed to pay attention to what I did when bombs went off and understand my whole stress response.
I realized that I usually go and do laundry first then make sure my kitchen is clean. I think the subconscious thinking was that if I had to evacuate, I might as well leave a clean house. Then I noticed that I tend to get tension backaches in my upper right shoulder blade and right trapezoid muscle. I also often had nervous energy when I sat down.
My mind was usually actively evaluating and picturing the bomb scene and its impact on the surrounding local and foreign community. I mentally prepared how to frame what happened for my children and other workers. I prayed, asking God for help to understand what was happening. How does stress affect you - physically in your muscles, neurologically in your energy and brain, emotionally, and spiritually?
What to remember about bombs going off:
1. Often times those evil-doers have planted a secondary bomb. The idea is that after the 1st bomb goes off, people rush to the scene to help, and as soon as the population in the vicinity increases, the 2nd bomb is detonated causing even more tragedy.
Guideline: Don't rush in to a scene after 1 bomb. Wait for 3-20 minutes before offering help.
2. Ironically, the local police response may be to initiate tear gas almost immediately. Once a bomb goes off, you have between 1-3 minutes to vacate the area or you will be affected. Learn about the effects of tear gas on the human body here.
At this point, it is important to pay attention to your gut and what the Lord's Spirit is telling you - should you get out of the area immediately or stay and help?
3. Get low (if possible) when a bomb goes off. Bombs are designed to explode outward so flying shrapnel is dangerous.
4. Anticipate you will have hearing loss if you witness a bomb.
5. Anticipate memories of witnessing violence to stay with you, even if you receive crisis stress debriefing and/or PTSD Counseling.
Even as I write this, I have nervous energy in my legs and my heartbeat is rapid. I can picture the last bomb I remember experiencing in Kabul - the windows in my living room went concave then convex from the air pressure changes. My guard witnessed a man's head blown off in that bomb. I remember one of the last big bombs in Ankara - the bus station. It was horrific.
6. In foreign environments, increase and cultivate situational awareness - avoid going to the bazaar at peak times, avoid large crowds, get away from suspicious items on the ground (even a pen), and stay away from police and other government vehicles that could be targeted.
Grocery stores where foreigners frequent, checkpoints and gates to Embassies, police stations, the post office, government offices, judiciary, and army barracks are all higher risk areas.
If you are new to a city for the purpose of cross-cultural work, learn these areas as quickly as possible and understand traffic flow. This will help you do simple risk mitigation by avoiding the areas when at all possible.
