What are Five Responsibilities of All Involved During a Physical Intervention

The five responsibilities of all involved during a physical intervention are to coordinate and lead, monitor the person continuously, keep de-escalating, use the minimum force necessary for the shortest time, and observe and record.

1. Lead and coordinate. One person takes charge and communicates decisions. Interventions go wrong when two people are working to different plans at the same time.
2. Monitor the person continuously. Breathing, colour, responsiveness, and anything said about difficulty breathing are checked throughout - not afterwards. Any sign of distress means releasing immediately.
3. Keep de-escalating. Physical contact doesn't end the verbal work. Calm, low-volume communication continues for the duration, and is often what makes an early release possible.
4. Use the minimum necessary, for the shortest time. Proportionality is assessed continuously, not settled at the start.
5. Observe and record. Someone not involved in the hold should be tracking what happens and when, and keeping others at a safe distance.

These apply while the intervention is happening. Once it ends, a separate set begins - see the six responsibilities immediately following a physical intervention. Both phases are covered on every physical intervention training course Stand2 runs.