How to create an emergency action plan for bullying or harassment at school
Creating an emergency action plan for bullying or harassment helps you feel safer and act faster if something happens. This guide breaks the plan into clear steps you can use at school, on the bus, or online so you know who to contact, what to say, and how to stay safe. Keep the plan where you can reach it in 1–2 minutes.
Step 1: Identify safe adults
Choose 3 adults you trust at school and at home and write their names, roles, and phone numbers. Include at least one school counselor or teacher and one family member so you can contact someone within 1–3 minutes when you need help. Tell each adult that they are on your emergency list.
[Illustration: student writing names and phone numbers on a small card]
Step 2: Define immediate actions
List 3 specific actions you will take if harassment starts: move to a public area, get an adult, or contact a trusted friend. Practicing these steps twice helps you act within the first 60 seconds of an incident and reduces freeze response. Include exact meeting spots like the library or main office.
[Illustration: student stepping away from a group toward a school office door]
Step 3: Use a short script
Write 2–3 short sentences you can say aloud or text (e.g., “Stop. This is harassment. Leave me alone.” or “I need help now—please come to the main office.”). Rehearse the script 3–5 times so it becomes easy to use under stress and ensures clear communication to stop the behavior quickly.
[Illustration: note card with three short sentences and a student practicing speaking]
Step 4: Document incidents clearly
Keep a small notebook or a phone note with date, time, location, people involved, and exactly what happened. Record at least the next 7 incidents or 30 days of events to show any patterns when reporting to adults. If safe, take a photo or screenshot within 2 minutes for evidence.
[Illustration: open notebook with columns for date, time, place, details]
Step 5: Know reporting steps
List the school reporting process in 4 steps: who to tell first, how to submit a report, how long responses usually take, and where to find appeals. Ask the school for written policy and keep a copy so you can follow timelines like 24–72 hours for official responses.
[Illustration: flowchart of four reporting steps on a clipboard]
Step 6: Plan for online harassment
Create a 5-point online safety checklist: screenshot messages within 2 minutes, block the user, change privacy settings, save URLs, and report to the platform. Schedule a weekly 10-minute check to update passwords and review who can contact you to reduce repeat incidents.
[Illustration: phone screen showing message screenshot and block button]
Step 7: Practice and review regularly
Run a quick role-play of your plan with a friend or adult every 4–6 weeks and update contacts or scripts as needed. Store a printed copy in your locker or backpack and an electronic copy on your phone so you can access it in under 2 minutes during an emergency.
[Illustration: two students and a teacher practicing a quick role-play in a hallway]
- Keep your emergency card the size of a credit card so it fits in a wallet or locker and can be found in 30 seconds.
- Share your plan with 1–2 trusted friends so they can support you and act as witnesses if needed.
- Use voice memos to record incidents quickly if writing feels unsafe; label recordings with date and time within 24 hours.
- Set a calendar reminder every month to check contacts, scripts, and evidence so nothing expires or is forgotten.
- Know 2 nearby safe zones at school (e.g., main office, guidance office) and memorize routes that take under 2 minutes.
- If you don’t feel safe reporting at school, contact a local youth helpline or child protection service and ask for guidance on next steps.
- Do not confront someone if you believe you are in physical danger; prioritize getting to a safe location and finding an adult immediately.
- Avoid deleting messages or evidence; preserving records is important for reporting and protection.
- Do not rely solely on friends to stop harassment; always include at least one responsible adult in your plan.
- Be cautious about sharing your plan publicly online—keep personal contact details private to protect your safety.
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