I’ll be writing three separate articles dealing with Behavioral
Analysis. I’ll also give you some examples of what pre-event indicators
may look like, and finally, we’ll have a discussion
on Behavioral Analysis training.
To say that we live in stressful times is an
understatement. It seems our world has
never been more stressful. There are so
many contributing factors, it is hard to know where to start to identify all
the stressors we face. The 24-hour news
cycle is a good place to start. The “always
on, always connected” lifestyle that center on continuous use of
smartphones and similar devices.
The distinct decline in civility, particularly
is political and religious discussion. This
lack of respect has created a rising intolerance of different viewpoints. Attacks against Christianity and other
religions are on the rise. This stress
can, and does effect individuals and can lead to a behavioral emergency where
the person in crisis can be a threat to themselves and others.
There can be different types of triggers to
behavioral emergencies. What triggers a
behavioral emergency in one person may have no effect on another. To be certain, accumulation of stress can be a
contributing factor. A common result of
stress is anxiety, fear that the endless parade of bad news and hatred is
leading to a disastrous result. Anxiety
is one of the most widespread disorders, with an estimated 10% of the American
population suffering from such effects as panic attacks.
Personal events contribute to stress. Death of a loved one, divorce, loss of a job,
an injury, or the effects of a major weather event on property and people. Substance abuse, medical issues, either
undiagnosed or from failure to take the prescribed medications are possible
triggers.
Unfortunately, symptoms can be hard to spot. The people in the best position to notice
symptoms are family members, close friends, and co-workers. Onset can take time, and people who have
infrequent interaction are likely to miss symptoms or view them as the person
is not feeling well or is having a bad day.
People will exhibit symptoms that show they
are susceptible to a behavioral crisis and can be identified by people close to
the individual. Symptoms include:
1) Depression
2) Anxiety
3) Scattered,
unfocused thinking
4) Self-doubt
5) Loss of
motivation
6) Lack of
patience or irritability
7) Paranoia
Special attention should be paid to
individuals who have experienced some sort of significant life event as listed
previously. A panic attack can be
considered a behavioral emergency, although it can be easier to manage. Panic attacks can occur suddenly. Symptoms that a person may be vulnerable to
having a panic attack include the following:
1) Extreme
uneasiness and worry
2) Agitation
3) Restlessness
4) A person
having a panic attack may exhibit one or more of these symptoms:
5) Racing or
pounding heartbeat
6) Heart palpitations or an irregular heartbeat
7) Dizziness
8) Tingling or
numbness of the fingers and mouth
9) Uncontrollable
shaking as though the person is very cold and teeth chattering
When a person is suffering a more severe
crisis, common symptoms exhibited may include:
1) Anger
2) Extreme
agitation
3) Paranoia
4) Hallucination
Perhaps the most severe aspect of a behavioral
emergency is the possibility of violence and subsequent harm to the sufferer and
others. One article reports that nearly
70% of behavioral emergencies result in injuries to nearby people due to
attempted assault and other actions. So,
it is vitally important to defuse the situation as soon as possible.
Indications that a behavioral crisis is on the
verge of becoming violent include:
1) Pacing
2) Yelling
3) Making threats
4) Clenched teeth
or fists
When confronted with an individual exhibiting
these symptoms, your Security Team Members need to respond quickly. They must clear people away from the
individual and, maintaining a safe distance, begin to engage that person
verbally.
Engaging a person in crisis is best handled by
a minimum of two Team Members. If two
Team Members are not available, someone in the congregation or gathering should
be enlisted as quickly as possible for support. The ‘volunteer’ may be a family member,
which can be beneficial if the crisis is the result of medication issues. Regardless, that person needs to take charge
of nearby people, make sure they are well back from the person in crisis, and
aid the team member if requested.
Note: Only trained
individuals should engage a person in crisis due to the volatility of the
event.
Your Team Member must remain calm, and speak
directly to the individual in a conversational, reassuring, and non-threatening
tone. The Team Member must immediately
make and keep eye contact. While
exhibiting a relaxed demeanor, the Team Member needs to remain alert to sudden
moves by the individual. On this point,
it is essential that the Team Member not make sudden movements that may be
misinterpreted as an aggressive action. The
support person must make sure that no one nearby makes sudden moves for the same
reason.
Note: If people in
the area can quietly and quickly move to a safe location without leaving the
engaging Team Member alone, be sure to do that as soon as possible.
Important: Try not to distract either the Team Member engaging the individual or the
individual. Distractions may provide the
motivation to act violently.
Let’s look at a few Verbal De-Escalation
Techniques.
When engaging a person in crisis, how you talk
to them is as important as what you say.
The tone of voice, volume, and inflection
matter. Be calm, neutral, and
conversational. If the person is
shouting or speaking loudly, respond in a lower tone. If they raise their voice, lower yours more. This removes the fuel (volume) people in
crisis seek. By lowering your voice if
they raise theirs, they get tired of yelling at themselves.
Be polite and courteous without being condescending.
Listen ‘actively’ repeating and rephrasing
comments, so the person realizes you are listening. Ask empathetic questions. This is not the time for drill sergeant
approaches (Full Metal Jacket bathroom scene, anyone?).
Engage in a dialog and slowly talk the
individual down.
Ask questions. Answer the individual’s questions. Do not join into a hallucination by saying you
see what they see. Tell them you are not
experiencing the same thing.
Important: A critical piece of advice is never to tell a person to calm down, or some
other similar phrase. This can trigger a more aggressive response.
Do not leave the person alone.
Stay with them and keep them calm until
family, friends, or medical assistance arrives. If necessary, have the other Team Member or
volunteer summon medical assistance and stand ready as a backup. Once the crisis has passed, it is vital that
the person seek further help.
Be safe!
Integrity Security Consulting
Russ Sharrock
405-762-2471 |
integrityseccon@hotmail.com
I have developed and made available to anyone interested, for FREE, a series of Security & safety forms that can
be printed for your use:
1) A Safety & Security Risk Assessment Form
2) Church Security Plan Template
3) Church Emergency Plan Template
4) A General Fire Safety Checklist
5) A Bomb Threat Checklist
6) A Bomb Threat Distance Chart: Includes various types of
explosive devises and to be referred to in an event of a bomb threat
evacuation. These are minimum distances to evacuate away from the area of
explosion.
7) Facility Lockdown Checklist
8) Child Protection Covenant
These MS Word documents can be adapted as necessary to fit your
church size and needs. I will be adding new forms as time allows.
For a copy of any of these FREE
forms, or if you have any questions, contact me and let me know what your needs
are.
