What to do if you witness a safety incident at LARP
SaveA safety incident at a live action roleplay event means someone has been hurt or is in danger and needs immediate help. You find the nearest marshal or first aider, tell them what happened and where the person is, then stay out of the way unless asked to assist. The rest of this guide from Fantastical Quests explains who is responsible for safety on site, how reporting works and what happens after you raise the alarm.
Who handles safety on site
Every LARP event designates marshals or safety officers before the event starts. These people are responsible for monitoring play, enforcing safety rules and responding to incidents. A first aider or medic is also present, often wearing a high-visibility vest or carrying a clearly marked bag.
Marshals and first aiders are identified at the safety briefing held before time-in. If you missed the briefing or cannot remember who they are, ask another player or look for someone wearing an armband, badge or vest that marks them as crew.
Some events appoint a dedicated safety officer whose sole responsibility is incident management. Others distribute the role among several marshals who patrol different areas of the site. Either way, these people are trained to assess injuries, stop play if needed and call emergency services when required.
What counts as an incident
An incident is any event that causes or could cause physical harm. This includes obvious injuries such as cuts, sprains or head strikes, but also situations where someone has fallen, become unwell or is in distress and cannot continue playing safely.
Equipment failures that create danger also count. A weapon that has split and exposed its core, a broken piece of scenery blocking an exit or a trip hazard in a high-traffic area all need reporting even if nobody has been hurt yet.
Emotional distress during roleplay is handled differently. If someone is upset by the fiction but not physically at risk, you speak to them out of character first and offer to find a marshal if they want to pause or leave the scene. If they are in immediate psychological crisis, you treat it as an incident and find a marshal straight away.
Steps to take when you see something go wrong
- Stop your own actions immediately. Call a halt to any combat or physical interaction you are involved in, step back and make sure you are not adding to the danger.
- Check if the person is conscious and responsive. Ask if they are all right and if they can hear you. Do not move them unless they are in immediate danger from their surroundings.
- Send someone to find a marshal or first aider. Point to a specific person nearby and ask them to fetch help. If you are alone, shout for a marshal while staying with the injured person.
- Keep bystanders at a safe distance. Ask other players to step back and give the person space. If the incident happened during combat, tell everyone nearby that play has stopped.
- Stay with the person until help arrives. Reassure them, keep them still if they have a suspected head or neck injury, and do not attempt first aid unless you are trained and it is an emergency.
- Explain what you saw to the marshal or first aider. Describe the mechanism of injury in plain terms: what the person was doing, what happened and where on their body they were struck or fell.
What information to give when reporting
Marshals and first aiders need specific facts to assess the situation. Tell them where the incident happened, what the person was doing at the time and what you saw occur. If a weapon or piece of equipment was involved, point it out or describe it.
If the person lost consciousness, even briefly, say so. If they complained of pain, dizziness, nausea or numbness, repeat those exact words. If they are bleeding, say where and whether it has stopped.
Do not diagnose or speculate about how serious the injury is. Describe only what you observed. The person trained in first aid will make that assessment.
When play stops and when it continues
A marshal will stop play in the immediate area if the incident is serious or if continuing would put anyone at further risk. Players within sight or earshot are expected to pause, step out of character and move away from the scene.
Once the injured person has been assessed and is receiving care, the marshal decides whether play can resume. If the incident was minor and contained, the rest of the event continues as planned. If emergency services have been called or the incident affects a large part of the site, the marshal may pause the event until the situation is resolved.
You do not decide this yourself. Even if the person says they are fine and wants to keep playing, the final call rests with the marshal or first aider who assessed them.
Reporting faulty equipment
If you see a weapon, shield or piece of armour that has failed a safety check or deteriorated during play, show it to a marshal as soon as possible. Explain what is wrong: a split in the foam, a protruding core, a crack in a shield boss or a loose strap that could catch.
The marshal will remove the item from play and tag it as unsafe. The owner can repair it between events and have it rechecked before using it again, but it cannot be used for the rest of the current event.
Environmental hazards work the same way. A guy rope across a path, a tent peg sticking up or a broken piece of set all need reporting. The crew will either fix the hazard or cordon off the area until it can be made safe.
Differences between minor and serious incidents
| Incident type | Response | Reporting requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Minor scrape or bruise, person continues playing | First aider cleans and covers wound, checks for other injuries | Logged in incident book, no further action |
| Suspected sprain, strain or head strike | First aider assesses, person rests out of character, may return to play if cleared | Logged, monitored for worsening symptoms |
| Loss of consciousness, severe pain, suspected fracture | First aider stabilises, emergency services called if needed | Full incident report written, event organiser informed immediately |
| Faulty equipment creating danger | Item removed from play, area checked for similar faults | Logged, owner notified, item tagged |
What happens after the incident
All incidents are recorded in the event's incident log. This document includes the time, location, people involved, a description of what happened and the outcome. If you witnessed the incident, a marshal may ask you to confirm the details for the log.
Serious incidents trigger a review by the event organisers. They look at what went wrong, whether safety procedures were followed and what changes might prevent a similar incident in future. This review is internal and focuses on process, not blame.
If the incident involved a breach of the rules, the organisers decide what action to take. This might range from a warning to temporary suspension or permanent exclusion, depending on the severity and whether the person has a history of unsafe behaviour.
Your role after reporting
Once you have reported the incident and given your account, step back unless the marshal asks you to stay and help. Do not discuss the details with other players while the event is running, as speculation spreads quickly and often inaccurately.
If you were directly involved in the incident and feel shaken, tell a marshal. Most events have a quiet space where you can sit out of character for a while. If you need to leave the event early, the organisers will understand.
After the event, if you have concerns about how the incident was handled or if you think a safety rule needs changing, contact the organisers privately. Give them your perspective and any suggestions you have. They take feedback seriously, especially from people who were present when something went wrong.
Start with the safety briefing
Every incident response begins with knowing who to find and where they are. That information is given at the safety briefing before time-in, so attending it is not optional.
This week, before your next event, make a note in your field kit checklist to identify the marshals and first aiders as soon as you arrive on site. Check where the first aid station is and memorise at least one marshal's face. If you witness an incident, those few seconds of recognition will matter.
#Beginner tips #Combat safety #Event rules #Consent
Download PDF: Safety incident response checklist for LARP players PDF, 29 KB
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
Who do you tell first if someone gets hurt at a LARP event?
You find the nearest marshal or first aider and tell them what happened and where the person is. These people are identified at the safety briefing before the event starts and are responsible for responding to incidents.
What should you do if a LARP weapon breaks during play?
Show the weapon to a marshal immediately. They will remove it from play and tag it as unsafe. The owner can repair it and have it rechecked at a future event, but it cannot be used again during the current event.
Do you need to write a report after seeing a safety incident at LARP?
The marshal or first aider writes the incident report. If you witnessed what happened, they may ask you to confirm the details for the log, but you do not write the report yourself.