One way you can help in crisis situations is by giving accurate descriptions. Use helpful adjectives, take notice of distinguishing characteristics... the information you provide can help immensely.
When describing a person:
- Share any characteristics such as tattoos, birthmarks, etc. that will make a person stand out
- Notice permanent features--hair color, height, facial structure, etc.-- rather than solely focusing on clothes because those can be changed easily
- Take note of the basics such as size, color and shape
- Jot down any identifying characteristics, from part of a license plate number to an odor
When describing an incident:
- Stay as objective as possible
- Keep things in chronological order as much as you can
- Provide a "reporter's view"--the who, what, where, why, when and how of a situation
- Tell listeners where you were standing/sitting at the time of the incident so they can get a better feel for your vantage point