Prevention Education and Advocacy
Distraction Tips for Bystander Intervention
Remove either person from the situation: 鈥淗ey, I think someone鈥檚 looking for you in the other room. It seems important.鈥�
Strike up a conversation with either person. 鈥淗ey, aren鈥檛 you in my Calculus class? How do you think you did on that test?鈥�
Get a friend to help you distract the individuals in the situation. It may be easier to intervene when you have someone else backing you up.
Divert the individuals鈥� attention by 鈥渁ccidentally鈥� spilling your drink on the potential aggressor.
If one of the people in the situation is your friend, tell them that you鈥檙e tired and want to leave/go home.
If the individuals are already in a room alone together, it is not necessarily too late. Open the door yourself or knock until someone comes to open it.
Be the awkward third wheel 鈥渉ey, you going to watch Netflix upstairs? I鈥檒l join you. House of Cards is my favorite!鈥�
Call attention elsewhere 鈥淥h My God! Is that Gus the Goose over there?鈥�