If you are driving, make sure that your vehicle is parked facing the exit in a secure place with the car facing out for quick getaways. Typically it is better to park further away from a site of protests or civil unrest so you can walk in, observing police and crowd activity on foot and walk or run out, ensuring your car doesn’t get trapped. If you are working with others and/or can’t get back to your planned mode of transportation, have a backup plan that you have communicated to your offsite emergency contact. Safe havens should include somewhere high above the ground for aerial view of your surroundings.

Shoes should have hard soles, laces and ankle support and your clothes should help you blend in with the crowd.

Avoid: Tactical/military look, expensive jewelry, loose clothing, political slogans, media branding, and any colors associated with particular groups.

Establish a check-in procedure with your newsroom, colleagues, and/or family and friends, as your situation specifies. Have emergency messages written and ready to be sent out quickly and/or have the number(s) for your onsite and offsite contacts accessible for quick calls.

Keep the contact information of an attorney and bail-bond on you in writing, not just saved to your phone. Write the most important contacts i.e. your editor, attorney, and medical support on your arm with a Sharpie in case police take your phone.

Use tools such as Google Maps and Google Earth to see the streets and potential routes or parking locations. Use tools such as Waze or social media reports to determine expected traffic and transportation timing in the area. Know your routes for entering and exiting the area. If you have to drive yourself, park far enough away from the action that your car is unlikely to be blocked by police or crowd movements. Try to have an offsite person who can meet you at a designated location to pick you up. Have a clear exit plan with a backup.

Shatterproof goggles with properly secured side coverage are ideal. Wear a helmet and, if available, a flak jacket for rubber bullets. Be aware that this kind of gear will also make you stand out more, particularly if your vest says ‘PRESS.’ Have gloves and an N95 mask on hand. If possible, have a gas mask available to put on quickly if that becomes necessary. Consider having these tools available but not wearing them until necessary to decrease your profile.

Understanding local law enforcement tactics and policies for crowd control will improve your awareness of and reaction time to things like kettling or weapons deployment. Never argue with law enforcement. Instead, take note of/record identifying markers such as badge number. Familiarize yourself with various active organized groups and their attitudes towards the press (police, military, organized civilian groups, activist movements, other potential threats and/or allies).

Take the minimum amount of equipment necessary with you. (i.e. two lenses and one camera instead of your whole kit). Be familiar with what you have on you and how to access it quickly. Carry extra memory cards, batteries and necessary cables. Carry a portable phone charger and an extra charging cord.

Photojournalists and videographers who are drawn to the action can be at greatest risk. They should always have a backwatcher and/or look up every few seconds to maintain situational awareness. Do not wear camera straps around your neck. (Consider a shoulder camera harness that will still attach your camera to you while not making it a strangle device.)

Apps like Waze and Signal can help keep you up to date on traffic impediments and/or crowd actions. Social media can keep you current on information being shared by organizers, protesters, local/national news etc. It is also a way for you to communicate in real time. Identify where medical assistance is located and how to access it as quickly as possible.

Whenever possible, consider a high vantage point for your safety and if you need a longer exposure time. Be attentive to and prepared to respond in the case that actions escalate, either by police or protestors.

Especially if you are a femme-presenting person or identify as a woman, a belt is a good idea. This will make it harder for anyone to undo your pants in a crowd. It is also a good handhold for a colleague or ally to grab you by in case hauling you out of a crowd becomes necessary.

Avoid having anything on your person that could be used to grab you, strangle you or pull you. Secure long hair but not in a ponytail, as these are easy to grab in a crowd. While you do want to have a press pass readily available, avoid wearing lanyards around your neck (these can be used to grab you or strangle you). Consider a velcro pouch, cargo pants with pockets or putting it on your belt loop.

Elements of identity such as race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious identifiers, perceived political/ or social position, attire, visible recording equipment, jewelry and tattoos can all have an impact on how people understand you. How might these factors potentially raise or lower your profile in civil unrest environments?

Stay to the sides or above if possible. Avoid going into the very center of a protest or in between police officers and protesters as those are typically the most volatile and dangerous areas. Be mindful of and avoid the ‘kettling’ tactic used by police.

Try to work with a backwatcher who can help keep you aware of your surroundings and any developing threats. This is especially important for visual journalists whose line of sight is often impaired by looking through viewfinders.