The Four D’s of Intervention

When you see a potentially unsafe situation …

Direct – Step in and address the situation directly.

Example: “That’s not cool. Please Stop” or “Hey, leave them alone.”

Distract – Create a distraction to suppress the situation.

Example: “Hey aren’t you in my Spanish class?”

Delegate – Find someone who can help you intervene.

Example: You could contact an R.A., a campus police officer, or a faculty or staff member.  

Delay – It may be best to delay any action for a few minutes.

Example: If you are in a group, you could delay your intervention by asking the person to use the restroom with you.