In just about any city, at some point, someone is protesting something.

While the majority of protests are in fact peaceful, depending on the reason for the protest and how emotional protesters are, a few bad apples can incite a riot.

If that happens to a situation you are in or in close proximity, follow this advice.

Move Away

Stay as far away from the front of the pack as possible, and try to move towards the back. You may need to zig-zag, take a few steps back before going forward and then back again. How you retreat will ultimately depend on the size of the crowd as well as how much space there is to maneuver.

Another option is to get to the edge of the crowd and find a way to retreat from there. There are generally fewer people near the sidelines, and this can give you an opportunity to make a faster exit.

Make Yourself Invisible

If you cannot escape, the next best thing to do is to make yourself as invisible as possible. Find a building to stand against, hide in an alcove or behind a dumpster in an alley and reevaluate your plan. Avoid standing in the front of a business as rioters tend to target those before anything else.

Getting Trampled

Another risk that you face is from getting trampled and injured. The best thing to do if you get knocked to the ground is to curl yourself up into a ball in order to protect your torso and limbs from injury.

Shelter in Place

If you are in a building on a higher floor that is situated within ground-zero, stay put. Most rioters will damage the ground floor of public buildings and retail stores. If you are in a hotel, office or apartment building, stay in your room or proceed to a higher floor where you can ride out the storm.

Again, the best advice is to avoid any type of protest, but if you find yourself in one, remaining on high alert and responding quickly and decisively can mean the difference between avoiding injury and in some cases, even a life threatening situation.

Follow these critical steps to get yourself to safety if you are confronted with a riot and for more tips, visit 101 Ways to Survive.