Training modules/Keeping events safe/slides/dealing-with-valid-incident-reports

During the event: Dealing with valid incident reports

Reporting a legitimate harassment incident may require a lot of courage. Don't forget that the person coming to you is likely experiencing negative feelings—they may feel hurt, embarrassed, upset, threatened, unsafe, discriminated against, or angry. On top of the advice listed in the previous section:

• Take notes. You don’t need to take notes the very moment someone approaches you (as you may need to act immediately), but making a record of the report and relevant details while the memory is still fresh is important. It also helps reassure them that their report is taken seriously.
• Stay calm, think rationally. The person making the report may be overtaken by emotions, but the person expected to deal with the issue should not.
• Be ready to react. In some cases, a quick intervention may be necessary. It may be that you need to call emergency services or inform venue security.
• In a medical situation, ensure those affected receive medical care. If the report comes from the person immediately affected, you may need to ensure they receive appropriate medical attention. If they’ve been physically hurt, you may need to accompany them to the nearest hospital.
• Help the target consider actions. Depending on the severity of the incident, it may be appropriate to help them think about their immediate and long-term options that may help them recover or bring criminal charges.