Emergency & SafetyQuestion 176 of 200

An employee answering a phone receives a bomb threat. The FBI/DHS-endorsed protocol calls for the call-taker to:

a.Hang up immediately and ignore the call as a prank
b.Stay on the line, record the caller's exact words, note voice characteristics and background sounds, signal a coworker to call 911, and after the call, complete the FBI bomb-threat checklist
c.Demand the caller's name and threaten them with arrest
d.Page the building over the PA system to announce 'bomb threat'

Explanation

FBI/DHS bomb-threat protocol calls for keeping the caller on the line as long as possible, recording exact words verbatim, noting voice characteristics (accent, age, gender, demeanor), background sounds (traffic, machinery, music, voices), and any specific details about the device or motive. A coworker silently signals 911. The completed Bomb Threat Checklist gives investigators critical leads. Hanging up (a) destroys intelligence value; threatening the caller (c) escalates and ends the call; public PA announcements (d) cause panic and may trigger an actual detonation if a device is present.

Law Reference: FBI/DHS Bomb Threat Stand-Off Card and Checklist

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