RBS Emergency Response & Safety Procedures 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'duty of care' mean for a bouncer working at a licensed venue?
- A legal obligation to check IDs only
- A responsibility to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm to patrons and staff (Correct answer)
- A requirement to perform CPR on every unconscious patron
- An obligation to call police for every minor incident
Correct answer: A responsibility to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm to patrons and staff
Duty of care obligates venue staff to act reasonably to protect people on the premises from harm that could be anticipated.
Question 2: A patron is visibly overheating on the dance floor (hot skin, rapid pulse, confusion). What is the priority action?
- Give them ice-cold water to drink immediately
- Move them to a cool area, apply cool wet cloths, and call 911 if symptoms don't improve (Correct answer)
- Give them an alcoholic beverage to help them relax
- Tell them to stop dancing and rest at their table
Correct answer: Move them to a cool area, apply cool wet cloths, and call 911 if symptoms don't improve
Heat stroke (hot skin + confusion) requires rapid cooling and EMS — it is a life-threatening emergency, not minor overheating.
Question 3: Which action during a patron altercation creates the highest legal risk for a bouncer?
- Calling police before intervening
- Using verbal de-escalation techniques
- Applying excessive force beyond what is needed to control the situation (Correct answer)
- Asking witnesses to stay on scene
Correct answer: Applying excessive force beyond what is needed to control the situation
Excessive force exposes the bouncer and venue to assault charges and civil lawsuits; force must be proportional and reasonable.
Question 4: After a serious incident, why is it important for a bouncer to write an incident report as soon as possible?
- To ensure the patron pays for any damages
- To document accurate details while memory is fresh, protecting the venue legally (Correct answer)
- To notify the liquor control board within 24 hours
- To prevent other staff from discussing the event
Correct answer: To document accurate details while memory is fresh, protecting the venue legally
Timely incident reports capture accurate facts that can be critical in legal proceedings and insurance claims.
Question 5: A patron says they have diabetes and feels their blood sugar is dangerously low. They are still conscious. What do you do?
- Call 911 immediately and do not give them anything by mouth
- Give them a sugary drink or snack and monitor closely, calling 911 if they don't improve (Correct answer)
- Give them water only to avoid worsening their condition
- Walk them to the exit and wait for someone to pick them up
Correct answer: Give them a sugary drink or snack and monitor closely, calling 911 if they don't improve
A conscious diabetic with low blood sugar can receive fast-acting sugar by mouth; if they don't improve quickly, call 911.
Question 6: In a mass casualty event at your venue, triage means you should:
- Help the most critically injured first, regardless of prognosis
- Quickly assess all victims and prioritize those who can survive with immediate help (Correct answer)
- Wait for EMS to arrive before touching anyone
- Focus resources entirely on the victim who is bleeding most severely
Correct answer: Quickly assess all victims and prioritize those who can survive with immediate help
Basic triage prioritizes victims most likely to survive with prompt intervention, maximizing the number of lives saved.
Question 7: What is the best way a bouncer can support a patron who is experiencing a panic attack?
- Escort them firmly outside and lock the door
- Stay calm, speak in a low reassuring voice, guide slow breathing, and stay with them (Correct answer)
- Tell them to stop overreacting and rejoin their group
- Administer water immediately and leave them in a private room alone
Correct answer: Stay calm, speak in a low reassuring voice, guide slow breathing, and stay with them
Calm presence, slow-breathing guidance, and staying with the patron are evidence-based approaches to helping someone through a panic attack.
RBS Emergency Response & Safety Procedures 5
What does 'duty of care' mean for a bouncer working at a licensed venue?