Bomb Threat Checklist

Bomb Threat Checklist

 

Don’t React to Crisis, Prepare for It

 

Bomb Threat Call Procedures

Although a bomb threat can be a stressful situation it is important to remain calm. The information you obtain may make a difference in the outcome of the situation. Act with purpose but do not give the caller the satisfaction of losing your composure. It is important however, to remain courteous and not antagonize the caller. Treat all bomb threats seriously.

Bomb Threat Received by Telephone:

  1. Listen carefully to what the caller is saying.
  2. Keep the caller on the phone as long as possible, asking as many open-ended questions as possible.
  3. Do not hang up on the caller.
  4. While keeping the caller on the phone, alert a colleague to call the police (911) due to a bomb threat situation. It is helpful to have some signal worked out with colleagues prior to such an event occurring.
  5. A cellular phone should not be used to make a call to the police. The signal could possibly detonate the bomb.
  6. If the caller hangs up, do not use the same phone to call the police. Use a different phone and keep other people from using the involved phone.
  7. Using the Vertex Bomb Threat Checklist as a guide, document the information indicated. The checklist contains appropriate questions to ask the caller and provides areas for recording the answers.
  8. Be alert to how the caller speaks, paying particular attention to the tone and pitch of their voice, speech patterns such as accents or speech impediments, types of words they use and their demeanor. The checklist provides choices for each with checkboxes next to them. Simply mark all that apply.
  9. Pay attention for background noises or anything that might indicate the location of the caller. The checklist provides choices for each with checkboxes next to them. Simply mark all that apply.
  10. Record as much of the information on the checklist as possible. Use the exact words the caller used when possible.
  11. Activate your organization’s bomb threat protocol.

Unknown Caller

Bomb Threat Received by Note:

  1. Handle the note as little as possible.
  2. Contact the police (911) immediately.

Bomb Threat Received by E-mail:

  1. Do not delete the message.
  2. Contact the police (911) immediately.

Bomb Threat Received by Text:

  1. Do not delete the message.
  2. Contact the police (911) immediately.

 

If a bomb threat is received, do not use cellular phones or two-way radios to contact help. The radio waves may detonate the bomb.

 

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Bomb Threat Checklist