Safety During Interactions
Nothing is a higher priority during an interaction than safety.
Everyone’s safety is of the utmost importance but the most important person to keep safe is you! If your safety is compromised you may require, and no longer be offering, an intervention.
Your second priority is your teammates, to whom you offer protection and support. The strength, quality, and success of an interaction may depend on the strength of the team, protect each other. Finally the safety of all involved, especially the most vulnerable like children or elderly, or disabled. All of these should have some of your attention and priority.
Validate Other's Perception
If a person feels abused or in danger, then they are, whether you perceive the threat or not. Your goal in the interaction is to help them to feel out of danger or not abused. This includes physical safety as well as emotional, socio-political, or any other way that makes them feel vulnerable.
Each person has the right to safety , the first of the five interpersonal rights in this text, the right to not be abused or in danger. The obligation that goes with this right is to not be abusive or dangerous to anyone else.
