Before It Happens - The Good Samaritan Dilemma

This episode features Chapter 16 from the full-length audiobook Before It Happens: The Art of Staying Safe Before Violence Starts by David Burnell.

Helping others is noble, but good intentions alone aren't enough in a world of deception, chaos, and rapidly evolving threats. In this gripping and wise chapter, David Burnell breaks down one of the most challenging questions in modern personal safety:

When should you step in? And when should you step back?

Through powerful real-world examples from law enforcement, humanitarian missions, and civilian encounters, you’ll learn:

• How to spot a setup trap
• Why reactive heroism can backfire
• When pause and observation are safer than intervention
• What legal and ethical lines do you need to know before helping
• How to help smart, safe, and effective—without becoming the next victim

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What would I do if I saw someone in danger?”—this chapter is for you.

This is a single chapter from Before It Happens: The Art of Staying Safe Before Violence Starts by David Burnell, available now on Audible, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

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