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Bomb Threat Safety Procedures

In recent years, domestic and international terrorism has dominated headlines. Sadly, people are finding more ways than ever to harm large numbers of people. Because the materials necessary to make bombs are so easily procured, it is imperative that schools, factories, offices and other public institutions develop a plan of action for bomb threats.

  1. Gain Information

    • If you have the opportunity to speak with a person delivering a bomb threat, get as much information as possible. Ask where the bomb has allegedly been placed, what it looks like, when it is set to detonate and what will make the bomb explode. This will help emergency personnel locate the bomb and disarm it safely. Try to get the person who is making the threat to reveal as much about himself as possible: why he's placed the bomb, where he's located and what he looks like. This will make the negotiator's job easier and will increase the likelihood that the person can be identified and apprehended.

    Listen for Noises

    • Jot down any peripheral noises you may hear during the phone call. Noises like train whistles, PA announcements or construction vehicles may give emergency personnel an idea of where the person who is making the threat is.

    Assess Language

    • Take note of how the person making the threat delivers it. This can indicate the level of seriousness for the threat. For instance, if there is snickering in the background and the person seems calm, the threat might be a prank. Shouting and angry accusations may indicate the person's instability and as such, the seriousness of the threat. If the threat is written, grammar and slang might give an indication of who the person is, her level of education and what places she might frequent.

    Evacuate the Vicinity

    • Get everyone out of the area. Even if you think the threat is not very serious, the consequences of being wrong are too high to take a chance. Clear out the building or area by sending everyone to a designated meeting place where attendance can be double checked.

    Communicate With Emergency Personnel

    • Phone in the threat to emergency personnel. Give the information that you have gathered about the bomb and the person making the threat to the authorities. Once you have done this, try to secure the area. This will stop an unsuspecting visitor from discovering and/or setting off the bomb by accident if the threat is real. If the person who has made the threat is still in the vicinity, then this also will prevent bystanders from getting caught in a possible crossfire between that person and the authorities.

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