An avalanche during a Halloween celebration in Seoul, South Korea that killed at least 151 people has become the latest in a series of recent tragedies involving crushing crowds.
November will mark the festival’s first anniversary astronomical world in Houston, when 10 people were killed and hundreds injured at a Travis Scott concert; Earlier this month, more than 100 people were killed in a stampede during a football match in Indonesia.
Despite these high profile cases, such “episodes are a lot.” raresaid Clifford Stott, a professor of social psychology at Keele University in England and an expert on crowd behavior.
“The extent to which people will find themselves in the circumstances in which these kinds of events could take place is extremely low,” he added.
Yet there are simple strategies which can help keep you safe in crowded environments, experts said.
“It doesn’t matter how big you are, how strong you are,” said Paul Wertheimer, a crowd safety expert in Los Angeles.
“If you get caught on a stampede, everything is out of your controlL”.
This is what you need to know.
What to do before going to a crowded event
– Research the event and make sure the kids are prepared too.
Most organized and paid events will have a crowd safety plan, so they may be a safer option.
More relaxed street celebrations tend to have fewer precautions.
Standing events and unassigned events tend to be i more dangerousWertheimer said.
Parents should also know what kind of event their child will be attending, said G. Keith Still, a visiting professor of crowd science at Suffolk University in England.
Tell the children to find out where the exits are and to pay attention to potential hazards, such as crowded corridors or blocked stairways.
– Pay attention to how the event is organized when you enter for the first time.
If entry to an event seems poorly organized (for example, the security and ticket verification process is confusing and tumultuous), the rest of the event may be poorly organized to handle a crowd, Still said.
“If it looks chaotic, I would try to avoid high-density crowds from then on,” he said.
If the event is general admission, with no seats assigned, you may want to find the less crowded slots, he said, even if it means falling behind.
– Know where the exits are located throughout the facility.
You have to take the output into account closer where you are sitting or standing, Wertheimer said, and as you move around the venue, check the exits near the kiosk or bathroom, as a wave of crowds can unexpectedly occur anywhere.
“It should turn its head,” scanning its surroundings for signs that the crowd is getting too congested or that an exit is out of range, said Dr. George Chiampas, director of the Community Emergency Preparedness Initiative and Northwestern Medicine. Disaster Management.
How do I know if things are getting dangerous?
Watch out for warning signs that the crowd is getting dangerously dense.
If you get pushed into those around you, it could be a sign that the event is becoming dangerous, Wertheimer said.
You should also look around and see if there are any crowd safety managers or security personnel. safety check the situation; if no one is around, it can also indicate that the situation is not safe.
“When you feel like there’s congestion, when you feel your personal space is crowded, it’s a sign that maybe you should move to a different area and don’t wait for it to get worse,” said Gil Fried, crowd management expert. and professor at the University of West Florida.
For example, as much fun as it is to watch a concert near the front of the stage, the back is likely to be less crowded and safer.
What to do if there is an overwhelming crowd
– Stand up like a boxer.
You want to keep your arms in front of your chest, to create more space between you and the person in front of you, Wertheimer said.
Stand like a boxer, with one foot in front of the other so that you are more stable and better able to absorb the pressure of the people pushing you, he advised.
We also recommend that you keep the flexible kneesso that your body is not stiff and you can move.
– If you drop something, don’t try to pick it up.
Even if your phone falls to the ground, don’t bend over to reach it, Wertheimer said, you may not be able to get up.
– Not scream.
Wanting to save oxygen and yelling, even for help, is probably useless in a large crowd, Wertheimer said. And since the air in the crowd tends to be hot and muggy, raise your head for greater access to fresh air.
– If you fall, lie on your side.
You should stay upright, but if you fall, try to lie on your left side to protect your heart and lungs, Wertheimer said. If you are on your stomach or on your back and people fall on you, there is a risk that your chest will compress, he said.
– I went out for the edge from the crowd.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend moving forward diagonally towards the edge of the crowd when there is a pause in the movement.
Y do not resist to the strength of the crowd, the agency advised.
Although crowd waves are rare, a seemingly safe situation can quickly become dangerous.
The best strategy is to attend an event with a worst-case plan, experts said, and then stay aware of your surroundings.
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Source: Clarin
