Former Royal Marine shares essential safety tips for women

A Dutch veteran has become a TikTok star thanks to his potentially life-saving videos featuring practical self-defense tactics and survival skills that everyone should know. 

Robin Hunting, a former member of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps (RNLMC) who immigrated to the U.S., has more than 4.3 million followers on his @dutchintheusa TikTok account.

The father of twins joined the video-sharing platform last year during the pandemic, and, so far, he has covered everything from breaking out of duct tape to escaping from a sinking car. 

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Make a plan: In one helpful video, he outlined his top five safety tips for a first date, saying you should ‘always make sure you video chat before meeting someone’

FYI: It’s important that your date location is a public place that you picked out, he explained

Stay vigilant: Keeping in mind that your date is essentially a stranger, he warned that you should ‘not get drunk’ and only order beverages that ‘you can open yourself’

Robin’s viral TikToks have been viewed millions of times, and while anyone can benefit from his tips, many of his clips are geared toward keeping women safe. 

In one helpful video, he outlined his top five safety tips for a first date, saying you should ‘always make sure you video chat before meeting someone.’   

It’s important that your date location is a public place that you picked out, he explained, and always use your own transportation or call your own Uber to get there.  

Keeping in mind that your date is essentially a stranger, he warned that you should ‘not get drunk’ and only order beverages that ‘you can open yourself.’    

How to escape a kidnapper: Robin had his chest, wrists, and ankles duct-taped to a chair in another video to show how you can free yourself with little effort

Plan of action: ‘Shift your arm from left to right creating a small tear in order to break the duct tape,’ he advised. ‘You’re going to do the same on your other hand’

Getting freed: After breaking through the duct tape on his chest, he did the same thing with his ankles

Robin concluded that you should also ‘share the details, location, and updates with a friend or family’ in case anything happens.  

In another TikTok, the former Royal Marine demonstrated just how easy it is to spike a drink without the person noticing. The footage showed him quickly sprinkling a powder into his date’s glass while her head was turned. 

‘Yes, your drink can be spiked even if you’re right next to it,’ he said, recommending the Nightcap drink cover. 

The clever swatch of fabric is stored inside a scrunchie that can be worn in the hair or around the wrist, so it’s available whenever you need it. All you have to do is pull it out, place it over your glass, and insert a straw in the cover’s hole. 

‘Remember never leave your drink unattended,’ he added.

Scary stuff: In another TikTok, the former Royal Marine demonstrated just how easy it is to spike a drink without the person noticing

Better safe than sorry: Yes, your drink can be spiked even if you’re right next to it,’ he said, recommending the Nightcap drink cover

Advice: Robin also warned that you should ‘never leave your drink unattended’

Robin loves a safety gadget, and in a recent clip, he showed how a bracelet designed to break glass can help you escape from a sinking car. 

‘If your car is sinking and you cannot get out of your doors, one way to escape is out of the back,’ he explained. He then using the bracelet to break the back windshield of the car and crawl out. 

Robin is known for his practical advice, and he likes to point out everyday objects that can be used in self-defense as weapons.   

According to the expert, a filled water bottle — preferably one with a handle and made of steel — is the perfect tool to knock someone out with. 

He said a dog leash can be used to make your own handcuffs to tie up your attacker, while an umbrella is another item that can pack a punch, literally.   

First step: Robin also recently detailed the best ways to stay safe while walking home at night, saying you should pull the hood from your sweatshirt off of your head if you’re wearing one

Be alert: He said you should also take out your headphones or earbuds and avoid scrolling through your phone. He also suggested having 911 pre-dialed on your phone 

Careful: Once you reach your car, hold your bag in your hand while checking inside and around the vehicle. When you get inside, lock the doors immediately

In another video, he detailed the best ways to stay safe while walking home at night. 

First, you should pull the hood of your sweatshirt off of your head if you are wearing it. You should also take out your headphones or earbuds and avoid scrolling through your phone to make sure you stay on high alert. 

Robin advised having 911 pre-dialed and keeping your phone in your hand in case you run into a possible attacker. 

Once you reach your car, hold your bag in your hand while checking inside and around the vehicle. When you get inside, lock the doors immediately. 

Some of Robin’s most popular TikToks detail what you should do if you are ever kidnapped and restrained. 

Don’t forget: In another clip, he showed how to escape from a sinking car 

Safety tool: Robin used a bracelet designed to break glass to shatter the back windshield 

All it takes: After pushing away the broken glass, he crawled out the back of the car 

In one video, he had his chest, wrists, and ankles duct-taped to a chair to show how you can free yourself with little effort.  

‘Here’s a tip you should’ve learned in school,’ he said. ‘If you ever find yourself kidnapped and duct-taped, here’s how to get out. Shift your arm from left to right creating a small tear in order to break the duct tape. You’re going to do the same on your other hand. 

‘Now for the duct tape on your chest, you’re going to put both hands on your chest and move forward, like a brace position,’ he continued. ‘After that you move on to the legs, create a small little tear, and then just push through. And that’s how I get out.’

Robin made headlines in late September when he demonstrated how to properly punch an attacker, pick handcuff locks, and escape zip ties while sporting a full set of long acrylic nails. 

He had previously taught viewers how to roll up their fingers to create a fist before throwing a punch, but he explained in the clip that people with long nails can’t safely execute that technique. 

Giving back: Robin made headlines in late September when he demonstrated how to properly punch an attacker while sporting a full set of long acrylic nails

Technique: Robin advised hitting with the front of the palm or side of the hand instead of making a fist

Another challenge: In another video, he showed viewers how to escape zip ties with nails on 

Steps: Robin took a lace from each of his shoes and tied them through the zip tie. Then, he made a bicycle motion with his legs 

Wow: The shoelaces eventually burned through the plastic and freed him 

‘This doesn’t work, so what you’re going to do is you’re going to either hit with your palm like that — that still works — or with the [side of your fist],’ he said, demonstrating both punches.

‘Still works and it doesn’t hurt you.’

The video was such a hit that he later challenged himself to escape zip ties with the nails on, joking in the caption: ‘I’m getting my money’s worth.’

Although Robin fumbled with his shoelaces because of the nails, he was able to grab a lace from each shoe and tie them together through the zip tie.

Then, he did a bicycle motion with his legs until the shoelaces burned through the plastic, freeing him.

‘Guess I can [escape with long nails],’ he said.