Officer Safety and Survival Telecourse Supplemental Material

Booby traps serve one or a combination of three purposes. They deny access by killing or injury. They slow down a pursuit and aid in escape. They act as a warning device.
Forms Of Booby Traps - There are two forms of booby traps—impaling and explosive. Traps can be activated by a trip wire, a manual control, or by the victim. Anyone injured by a booby trap, however slight, should seek medical attention.
	Impaling Devices - Impaling devices normally involve sharpened objects such as sticks, metal spikes, or hooks. Injury occurs when the device is activated, normally by stepping on it thus causing the spikes to penetrate the skin.
		The Venus Flytrap - This device can easily be made using a flowerpot with nails placed around the inside and hidden in the ground for someone to step in. To escape such a trap, either break the nails or bend them downward. Do not attempt to pull the foot back out. This will only cause the nails to penetrate further. The Punji-Pit uses nails or spikes driven through a board and then hidden in the ground with the spiked ends pointing up. The Trotline is made by stringing a fishing line with three pointed hooks and attaching at eye level between two trees. If injured by this device, cut the line and seek medical attention in removing the hooks.
	Explosive Booby Traps - Explosive booby trap devices are generally more complex than impaling traps. They can be detonated by trip wire, pressure, electronically, or hand operation.
		Mousetrap with shot gun shell – This device is normally activated by a trip wire. When the wire is tripped the mousetrap closes and strikes the firing pen causing the shell to explode. Foot breaker - In this booby trap a round is placed in a short pipe containing a pin at the bottom. The device is activated by foot pressure driving the firing cap against the pin. Light bulb booby trap - In this device a light bulb is half filled with a flammable liquid or explosive and placed in the socket. When the switch is thrown, the electrical charge ignites the device.
Locating Booby Traps - Just as the bad guy will attempt to hide his/her traps, you must work just as hard to locate the trap before it finds you. Maintain awareness that booby traps may be present. Learn to recognize places most likely to contain traps. - Traps are most often deployed on trails, roads, escape routes, channeled areas, gates, steps, and doorways. Traps may also be placed on or around the object you are looking for and other objects of curiosity. Learn to recognize the signs that indicate a possible trap.
	Depressions in the ground. Unnatural appearances in the terrain. Objects that appear out of place. Obvious signs such as trip wires.
Find the trap before it finds you. Once located mark it, report it, and bypass the area if possible. If a trap is found the chance that there are others is almost certain. The disarming of the trap should be left to a trained person. If injured seek medical attention. There is no one standard for dealing with booby traps or the people who deploy them. Common sense, a keen eye, and good judgment are your best defenses against traps.


See Video dial up connection cable connection	Booby Traps Former CJA Instructor Tim Busha shows and explains some of the common types of booby traps that officer might see out in the field.