Bystander intervention is important
September 27, 2017
Tragedies happen in life. This is an unfortunate truth people have to grapple with in this world.
However, a small reason to hope is that in the midst of these tragedies, communities often come together, and there is usually someone refusing to stand by and watch these bad things happen.
For example, there is the heroic teacher who stepped up to subdue a student shooter at Mattoon High School last week.
It may seem hard or scary to even think of what one would do in this situation.
Though we hope emergencies never happen, preparing is never a bad idea. In fact, it could be life-saving one day.
Last week, we wrote about how new Eastern students are required to learn how to help in an emergency situation. EIU StepsUP! Bystander Intervention is a mandatory one-time training program for new students, which helps them know what to do in problem situations.
What those who want to avoid becoming bystanders need to do, according to the article, can be remembered in five steps.
The first step is looking for red flags, or situations that look problematic. Next, the article states that one should identify the problem and see if what is happening is an emergency. The third step involves the person assuming responsibility for the situation and seeing if there is someone who can help. The fourth step is knowing how to get help and the fifth is actually getting that help.
These five steps seem simple enough to remember, but in an emergency, remembering something as simple as knowing where emergency lights are on campus or how to get ahold of the University Police Department can prove difficult, especially in a time-sensitive situation.
So be sure to brush up on these things often, to make sure you remember what needs to be done. Maybe stick emergency numbers on your fridge, or have them saved on your phone for when you are out and about.
It may seem hard to be the one person in a crowd willing to jump in when something feels wrong, but it will be worth it when you save another person from harm. Standing passively when you know a problem is happening almost guarantees nothing will get better and that something bad will happen.
It is depressing to think about these things, of course. No one wants to, and it is sad that we have to. But this is the world we live in. The way we feel less helpless and alone when tragedy strikes is by preparing and making sure we know what to do in emergency situations.
And of course, when terrible things do happen, it is important to lean on each other for support. While it is OK to have alone time and everyone deals with things differently, completely isolating yourself from others will only make you feel worse.
Talk to a counselor or trusted friend and family member. Reach out to someone you trust and just talk. Remember, you are not alone. By communicating with those around you, a sense of healing may begin to develop.
The News staff can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]