Which option is NOT a recommended step in pre-intervention preparation?

• A. Find out as much as you can about the person/situation
• B. Calm yourself
• C. Center yourself and get focused
• D. Ignore the situation until help arrives

Answer: (D)

Before acting in a tense situation, staying proactive and centered matters. You gather essential information about the person and the situation to inform your approach and anticipate potential risks. Calming yourself helps reduce stress responses, preventing impulsive reactions and preserving clear judgment. Centering yourself and getting focused sharpens your attention and situational awareness, so you can choose a safer, more controlled response. Ignoring the situation until help arrives, however, leaves you passive and can let risk escalate or crucial cues slip by, delaying needed intervention. That lack of preparation undermines safety for you and others, which is why it isn’t a recommended step.