How to Help

We have compiled a small list of things to keep in mind when things go south:

Call for help

Nobody expects you to handle everything by yourself. Even more so, it is advisable to not even try that (we will get to that in a minute).
The first thing you always should do is to call for help. First of all, that means calling the police or an ambulance or other officials. They are trained for emergencies.
Next, inform other people around you. The easiest way to do that is to use enCourage to inform every around you.

Don't put yourself in danger

No matter the situation, you should put your own safety first. Always act with precaution and if you are unsure about your next move, better wait than to play the hero.
As mentioned above, there are always other people better suited for the emergency at hand.

Also, seek security in numbers. If you are part of a group, your personal risk will be much lower.
A good way to organize yourself with other helpers is to use enCourage to track their number and call them to your position. Once you have a few people surrounded, just yelling or showing presence can do a lot of good.

Presence is more important than actions

Not acting doesn't mean ignoring. Contrary to popular believe, a silent bystander can be quite helpful.
Calling for help, assembling more people, observing details and jotting down important information.
Just by being present, you don't draw as much attention to yourself and can focus on other tasks.
Also, don't underestimate the moral support you can give to the victim by just being near.
Additionally, acting could also have consequences for yourself:
When presented with an offender, physical intervention is a priviledge that is reserved to the authorities, so by actively intervening you might break a law yourself. Even wrongly administered help might make matters worse, no matter your intentions, so when in doubt it is better to overthink your actions a second time.

Assist in the aftermath

Most of the time, an incident doesn't end when the danger is averted. For serious emergencies, there is always an aftermath when authorities and affected people try to figure out what has happened and who is at fault.
Again, a bystander might be more helpful in that case than someone involved by presenting a neutral view from outside as a witness. Especially in violent incidents, helping the prosecution lead by the police will punish the perpetrators more fairly than an attempt by civilians.

More Resources on how to help

Recommendations by the police on how to help in those situations [GERMAN] Recommendations by a social initiative on how to help [GERMAN] A psychological model that explains the process of helping [ENGLISH]