More of this Feature • The Santana HS Shooting • Avoiding Tragedy - Tips • Relevant Information I • Relevant Information II

Related Resources • Report School Violence • Talking to Your Parents • Helplines for Teens • Crisis Line Phone Numbers • Teens Talk: Serious Stuff • Dealing: Social Weapons

When death threats or other threats of real harm start circulating, teens are much more likely to hear about it and to hear about it before any adults do. If you hear a threat of violence at school, or even if you just hear rumors of a threat, err on the side of caution and tell someone who can actually do something about it. Go to an adult and tell them the whole story. Tell as many adults as you can and make them hear you. There is strength in numbers!

Here's what to do:

1. Tell your parents. Ask them to tell your friend's parents and suggest that parents and teens go to the school officials (and if necessary, the police) as a group. Form a united front.
2. Tell the adults where, when and from whom you heard the threat. Tell them if you heard the threat directly or if you heard it through the rumor mill. Don't discount a rumor because it is a rumor; let adults decide if it is valid.
3. Don't be afraid to give names and details.
4. Don't be afraid to demand that you be treated as an anonymous source.
5. Tell all relevant information you may have about the people involved.
   
   If you heard the threat directly, tell everything you know or have heard about the person making the threat.
   
   If you heard the threat as a rumor, tell everything you know or have heard about the person making the threat and everything you know or have heard about the person who told you the rumor, including any possible clashes between the two parties.

You do not need to decide if a source is reliable or if a threat is real. All you need to do is alert adults to what you know -- all of what you know!

Remember, you can phone in anonymous tips to your local police and still provide detailed information.

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