If you are ever in a situation that you need immediate help, sometimes screaming, “No”, “Stop it”, or “Help” are not the words that people will always listen and react to. They may think you are having a fight with a parent, boyfriend or friend, and may not want to get involved.
As sad as it is, both statistically speaking and culturally speaking, if someone were to yell the word “Rape”, “Help”, or “Stop” not much is usually done. Those words may cause someone to look up, but it does not mean that anyone will actually try to come to your assistance.
Often times, in cultures all over the world, when people hear this word, they will avert their eyes and just keep on walking. They will think “Ohhh…ya nope. I don’t want to get caught up in that.”
People are often more concerned with getting wrapped up in the negative ramifications of helping than actually doing so. Whether that is aiding in a fight, filing police reports, testifying in court, or whatever comes with assisting another unknown person in society. People can shun away from the idea of getting involved in someone else’s affairs.
BUT when you yell “FIRE, FIRE, FIRE” at the top of your lungs, as loud as you can yell it, people will stop and pay attention because it has a connection to their safety and they will run to see what’s happening.
There is an innate human fascination with the concept of fire, so it holds considerable power in our society. We can harness this power as a tool for our own safety
When someone yells the word “FIRE” everyone perks up, everyone wants to help, and everyone runs to the scene
Why is this? Because fire is a force that does not affect just one individual, but it affects us all.If a house were to catch fire, it could spread. It could continue its destruction down the street and affect many people, many lives, maybe even their own. So, people run in to save the day
Fire demands immediate attention, and yelling, “FIRE” is one of the most powerful words you can use to get people to come to your aid. Ears will perk up, people rush to help, and (almost as important) people pull out phones to call emergency services and record what is going on. Bystanders, police, ambulances, fire trucks and news broadcasters will flock to the scene. That is a lot of help heading your way!
Other powerful words taught in COBRA courses include:
- No!
- Stop!
- I’m being attacked!
- I don’t know you!
- Get your hand off me!
Fire or any of these words are very powerful, but the number one lesson is to yell SOMETHING
Yelling if you’re being attacked serves several purposes. It can attract attention, it reinforces your message, and it can dissuade the attacker
So while I suggest FIRE is a great word to use, I am not opposed to anything that works! In fact, almost anything might work sometimes. The most important thing is to yell — and yell loudly. Take every opportunity to get to safety and never be embarrassed to yell for help.
