Yesterday's report of a knife attack in Texas was a grim reminder that such incidents can cause serious injuries and panic.  These incidents can occur in your office and even in court.  Of course, the best survival strategy is to avoid being attacked in the first place, but if an attack occurs, some tips may help.

First, face your attacker and keep the weapon in your sight, but do not succumb to weapon focus -- the tendency to focus on the weapon and lose sight of the rest of the assailant.  While you are watching the knife, the attacker may make a move that catches you off-guard.  And call for help!

Try to keep out of the weapon's effective range.  Most often, knives used in these attacks are small and concealable, with a range no more than 4 or 5 inches beyond the attacker's reach.  Attackers also often attack with slashes, so keep this in mind when gauging distance and movement.  If you stay out of arm's reach from the attacker, he most likely will step in to attack, so don't back yourself up against a wall or other object, and be ready to jump back out of reach when the attacker steps in.

Use an object such as a briefcase to block the attack, and even to knock the weapon from the attacker's hand.  If your fingers wrap around the object (such as a padfolio or desk tray), grab the object at one end and use the other end against the attacker -- this will help prevent your fingers from being cut.

Try to keep the attacker at bay until help arrives, and keep calling for help until it gets there or the attacker runs away.  Do not turn and run unless the attacker is incapacitated, as he may catch up to you and stab you from behind.

As the TSA has reaffirmed its controversial knife policy (story here), which is mixed news for air travelers: on the one hand, there may be less hassle in bringing your pocket knife or hockey stick on board, but on the other hand, everyone else on the plane is potentially armed. This may cause some flyers concern, but with a little forethought and preparation, this situation is manageable.

While most people seem most concerned about the pocket knives, these really aren't big enough to cause a major concern. To be sure, even a 2.36" blade can inflict a fatal wound, but in the close confines of an aircraft passenger compartment, it is not very wieldy. The narrow aisles and overhead storage bins make it more difficult to slash with a knife, and such a short blade gives an attacker little reach with a stab. To defend yourself in this scenario, find something to shield yourself from a stab (such as a briefcase or carry-on bag), and seek help from other passengers on the attacker's flanks or rear. If you find yourself being held at knifepoint, the most important thing is to control the weapon so that it cannot be used on a vital area (such as a major artery or important internal organ such as the kidneys).

The greater threat may come from the hockey stick (or lacrosse stick, golf club, pool cue, etc.). Despite the complaint I recently heard from the president of a flight attendants' union that "a golf club to the teeth" shouldn't be a job hazard (and I agree with her on that), the same narrow confines mentioned above make swinging one of these weapons almost impossible. The thrust will be the primary method of attack here. Again, find something to block the attack until help arrives. Because of the far greater reach of these weapons, you will have to be more on your guard. Most likely, the attacker will aim for the face, so keep your guard high. Fortunately, a low blow with a blunt weapon like this should not cause a fatal injury.

Of course, these guidelines aren't as applicable in the large cabins of jumbo aircraft with big, open passenger compartments, or in the terminal. Fortunately, the greater space in these areas affords you a better opportunity to avoid an attacker, and also to respond in kind. As with any potentially dangerous situation, the best defense is to prevent the attack altogether. Keep your eyes open for warning signs of an imminent confrontation, and avoid it.