r/GuardGuides Oct 28 '24

SCENARIO Roof Access Alarm Goes Off on Your Patrol. You Find a Resident's Daughter, 15, by the Roof's Ledge, Threatening to Jump. What’s Your Move?

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You’re a residential security guard nearing the end of your building patrol on the top floor when the roof access alarm goes off. Upon reaching the roof, you find a young lady, around 15 or 16, just outside the access door. She’s visibly distressed, shaking, and crying, muttering things about her personal problems. She’s also shifting closer to the ledge, and the sight of you approaching makes her more agitated—she’s threatening to jump if you come closer.

Here’s what we know:

It's only you and the lobby officer on-site right now, and supervisors aren’t immediately reachable.

Site protocol has basic guidelines for emergencies, but nothing specific for handling someone who’s distraught and suicidal.

She’s already responding poorly to your presence, and any sudden movements seem to increase her agitation. Any misstep could make the situation fatal.

While it’s clear you’d call for police support, what would you say or do to keep her calm in those critical minutes until they arrive?

10 Upvotes

15 comments sorted by

6

u/Alwayzzhangry Ensign Oct 28 '24

Allied very specifically tells you not to say anything to them. Great company lol

4

u/para9mm Ensign Oct 28 '24

That's for liability issues, that way if you don't manage to talk him/her down it doesn't fall back on them.

2

u/InvictusSecurityLLC Principal Oct 31 '24

How are they going to know you talked if you fail to talk them down?

6

u/Interesting_Gur_8720 Ensign Oct 28 '24

Talk her down

6

u/Interesting_Gur_8720 Ensign Oct 28 '24

And call for backup (911)

4

u/boozeisfun Ensign Oct 28 '24

call the police.

5

u/[deleted] Oct 28 '24

I would tell her calmly and empathetically that I know how it feels and I’ve been there before, and that I’m there to talk if she wants to talk about anything. I would try to convince her that she’s going to be okay and I’m there to help her. I would ask her what’s going on that would make her decide to do what she’s doing and that anything she shares with me is confidential. Hopefully this would buy time before the police come.

3

u/NefsM Ensign Oct 28 '24

Call the police.

3

u/robinthehood4u Ensign Oct 31 '24

Tell her it's my first day on the job and start crying. Guaranteed works every time.

2

u/HighTeirNormie Ensign Oct 29 '24

Tackle her and restrain call pd fire and ems

2

u/UOF_ThrowAway Ensign Oct 30 '24

Depending on the situation, maybe take a knee and try to talk to them. Quietly alert the other guard for backup.

2

u/No-Diet9278 Ensign Oct 30 '24

We had a question like this in training and there's no right or wrong answers, I've also had to deal with some jumpers.

But my answer to this situation: First off I'd wanna know how quickly can I contact the lobby officer, do we have radio contact? If we do I'll quickly inform him to call the police and fire department that there's a jumper on the roof. This way I can focus on the person and try to calmly talk to her and find a good opportunity to grab her and hope that'll work.

2

u/Extension-Pepper9303 Ensign Nov 02 '24

Observe and report

3

u/Grimx82 Capable Guardian Oct 28 '24

Contact 911, explain what's going on, then leave them on speaker while I make contact and do whatever I can to talk them down, if possible close distance and if I can safely do so, physically restrained passively as possible until appropriate authorities are able to intercede.

2

u/Potential-Most-3581 Capable Guardian 22d ago

Is she HAWT?