Guidelines to maintain safety of both yourself and others during situations of potential violence include

1. Take a position just outside the individual's personal reach (out of arm's reach) on the nondominant side.
2. Maintain an open posture.
3. Keep the individual in visual range.
4. Make certain the room's door is readily accessible; avoid letting the individual get between you and the door.
5. Summon help if the individual's aggression escalates to violence.
6. If other patients are in the vicinity, ask them to leave the room to decrease distractions and protect the person's dignity.

From: Alternatives to Restraint and Seclusion in Mental Health Settings: Questions and Answers From Psychiatric Nurse Experts