Man down

A safety call shouted when someone is genuinely hurt at a larp event, pausing all play so organisers and first-aiders can reach them.

"Man down" is an out-of-character safety call used at many larp events to signal that a real person has been injured or is in genuine distress. When you hear it, the fiction stops completely — no matter what is happening in the scene around you. Drop your character immediately and stand still or move quietly out of the way so that first-aiders and event staff can reach the person quickly. If you are the one who spots someone in trouble, shout the call loudly and clearly, then stay with the person and help guide first-aiders or staff to them. Do not crowd around, and do not move someone who may be badly hurt unless they are in immediate danger. If you have a first-aid qualification and no site first-aider is nearby, tell the nearest organiser, and if anyone may be seriously hurt, call the emergency services without waiting. Some games use a different phrase for the same purpose — "Hold," "Emergency," "Player down," or another word chosen in the safety brief. Whatever word your event uses, the meaning is the same: all activity pauses until an organiser gives the signal to resume. Never resume play on your own judgement. Because larp involves physical activity, padded weapons, uneven ground, and sometimes costumes that limit visibility or movement, real injuries can happen. Knowing the call before play starts — and making sure younger or first-time players know it too — is one of the simplest ways to keep everyone safer. Check your game's safety brief before each event, as the exact call and the response procedure are the authority for that site.