Getting Started with BOLO Alerts

Get started with BOLO Alerts in just a few minutes. This quickstart shows you how to find active alerts, review the details, and recognize when an alert has been resolved.

Time required: about 5 to 10 minutes

What you'll do

- open the BOLO page
- filter active alerts
- review a BOLO in detail
- understand how admins create and resolve alerts

What a BOLO is

A **BOLO** is a **Be On the Lookout** alert. It helps your team quickly recognize a person, vehicle, behavior, object, or location that needs extra awareness.

Each BOLO includes:

- a title
- a description of what to watch for
- a severity level
- a status
- optional images
- campus scope when relevant

Step 1: Open BOLO

1. Sign in to Vigilant Church.
2. Open BOLO.
- On the web app, select BOLO from the left navigation.
- On iPhone, open BOLO from the app navigation.
3. Review the alert list.

The list usually shows:

- the alert title
- the severity
- the campus, if applicable
- a thumbnail image when one is available

Step 2: Filter the alert list

1. Use the status filter to choose Active, Resolved, or All.
2. Use the severity filter to narrow the list to High, Medium, or Low.
3. If your organization has multiple campuses, choose a campus filter.
4. Use search to find a specific alert faster.

Active filters help you focus on what matters right now.

Step 3: Open an alert

1. Select a BOLO from the list.
2. Review the **Alert Summary** or detail page.
3. Read the description carefully.
4. Check the severity, status, and any attached images.

A detail view can include:

- the alert type
- current status
- who created it
- when it was added or updated
- one or more reference images

Step 4: Know what to do with the information

1. Read the BOLO fully before responding.
2. Share awareness with the right team members through normal operations.
3. Use Chat if your team needs to coordinate about the alert.
4. Follow your church's procedures if the situation becomes active.

> [!WARNING]
> Do not rely on the title alone. The description and images usually contain the most important identification details.

Step 5: Understand BOLO management

If you are an administrator, you can also:

1. Select New BOLO.
2. Enter the alert details.
3. Set the Type, Severity, Status, and Campus Scope.
4. Add images if they are available.
5. Save the alert.

Administrators can also edit, resolve, or delete an alert when the situation changes.