Solaren Ensures Downtown Nashville has Safe Bars!

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Feb. 10, 2024 | by: Solaren Risk Management

Friday, February 9th, Solaren Risk Management hosted the Safe Bar Training Class

Friday, February 9th, Solaren Risk Management hosted the Safe Bar training class where more than 50 bartenders, bar managers, Solaren’s staff and supervisors attended to learn more ways to enhance their security response. They all attended to learn more about how to enhance the safety measures put in place for their patrons. During this training attendees learned from Lorraine McGuire, Vice President of Community Relations for Nashville’s Sexual Assault Center, who presented in-depth information and available resources. This press release explores sensitive topics, so readers please be advised.

This class went over a multitude of learning objectives

This class went over a multitude of learning objectives which included: identifying effective strategies to create a safe and inclusive environment, understanding how to intervene in situations where there is a risk of sexual assault, identifying the five types of bystander intervention tactics, common responses to trauma, and how to appropriately respond to disclosure of sexual assault. Ms. McGuire also clarified the definitions of both sexual assault and consent while exploring the common factors involved in rape culture.

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center,

…81% of women and 43% of men experience some form of sexual harassment in their lifetime. This training is meant to help those who work around alcohol, which is involved in most of these cases, to better understand the signs and solutions to handle these situations before any bad actors can cause harm. A prominent reason behind why these bad actors get away with sexual assault is the Bystander Effect. This is where bystanders either do nothing because they assume someone else already has, or they are afraid of the liability of involving themselves.

The five elements of Bystander Intervention are…

1. Direct
2. Distract
3. Delegate
4. Delay
5. Document

These are safe tactics to help bystanders feel more empowered to step in and prevent a situation from getting out of hand.

It is important for our staff and security downtown to know how to use this information for a more informed and effective approach to resolving these issues. These listed tactics can be used by both staff and patrons to successfully help those who have been impacted or will potentially be impacted by sexual assault.

The vision the Sexual Assault Center has of safe bars in Nashville looks like capable bar staff and patrons who can rely on knowledge surrounding trauma and its effect on people to prevent re-traumatization. Realizing how prevalent trauma is, recognizing how it affects people and responding by utilizing trauma knowledge to then resist re-traumatization are key to preventing any more victims. Similar to bystander intervention, there are also steps to help people better understand how to approach someone with trauma related to sexual assault.

The six keys to a trauma-informed approach include…

1. Safety
2. Trustworthiness and Transparency
3. Collaboration
4. Empowerment
5. Peer Support
6. Understanding of Cultural, Historical and Gender Issues

How your bar can become a Safe Bar

For your bar to become a Safe Bar, over 50% of your staff must be trained and complete evaluations, engage in check-ins every six months, display the Safe Bar decal and Angel Shot posters and have a resource binder provided by the SAC behind the bar at all times. In order to accomplish this, please head to www.sacenter.dm.networkforgood.com/forms/safe-bar-certification to apply and receive resources for completing your training.

To reach the statewide hotline number, contact (1-866-811-7473 if you or someone you know needs help and to receive the necessary resources.

“We are safety aware because we care”