Guide For Surviving A Crowd Crush— 10 Things To Remember When Going To Big Crowd Events

Big-crowd events are usually fun but can be dangerous and even deadly in just a matter of minutes, as in the Itaewon Halloween event.

In 2006, crowd turbulence caused 362 deaths during a Mecca pilgrimage. The accident was captured on a CCTV camera and sent to German physicist, Dirk Hebing, a researcher specializing in crowd behavior. Helbing explained the “crowd-quake” phenomenon, wherein once the human density threshold of six people per square meter is reached, physical contact between bodies becomes so intense that the slightest movement will cause a surge of turbulence through the crowd. The turbulence causes a domino effect of people falling and putting them under crushing physical pressure.

Currently, there hasn’t been a way to prevent crowd quakes from happening. Thus, it’s essential to be prepared and to know what to do when faced with this situation. Here are ten things to remember when going to big crowd events.

1. Dress comfortably and wear sensible shoes.

Don’t wear tight clothes or high-heeled shoes when going to big crowd events. Dressing comfortably will make it easier to move around to get to a safer place in case a crowd surge is imminent.

2. Don’t bring children to big-crowd events.

Children will need attention and care, and it’s unwise to bring them to events that may be life-threatening if the crowd gets too dense.

3. Take note of all the exits.

Before going to a big-crowd gathering, look at the map and note the exits and other potential escape routes. In crowd stampedes, people tend to rush to the same exit instead of using all the available exit areas. Situate yourself in a location nearest to an exit or escape route.

Also, note possible choke points such as narrow alleys or streets and dead ends. Think of possible scenarios: what if crowds get out of control? What if a barricade collapses or a shooting occurs?

4. Avoid walls and other barriers.

Being against a wall or barrier gives fewer chances of moving away from a potential crowd crush. The first victims of a crowd crush are usually those situated by the walls or fences.

5. Keep your eyes open to changes in crowd density and movement.

The safe crowd density size would be four people per square meter. This is when there is space  enough to move without physical contact to people surrounding you. Anything more than that will create a potential crowd density that can cause a crowd quake later. Try to move to a safer area near the exits or at the back of the crowd once the crowd density is more than four people per square meter.

Martyn Amos, a crowd expert and professor of computer and information sciences at Northumbria University, explains how to note when a crowd becomes dangerous.

As soon as you feel like you’re losing autonomy, that’s the key. It’s when you start to get in a situation where your movement is not your own, and you’re at the whim of physics. It becomes challenging for you to move independently. If you can, remove yourself. Keep your eyes open and look for the most obvious escape route.

—Martyn Amos

Note: Based on video footage, crowd experts estimate that there were eight to ten people per square meter in the Itaewon tragedy.

6. Leave while you can.

The longer you wait, the harder it will be to escape to safety. Leave a highly congested area as soon as it starts getting uncomfortable, and while there’s still enough room to move.

7. Stay on your feet.

If your are caught in the crowd and can’t leave, retain your balance and stay upright. If you drop your mobile phone or bag, don’t pick it up as you may have difficulty standing up again. If you fall or trip and cannot stand up, go into a fetal position on your left side and protect your head.

In a crowd crush, people are pressed so tightly against each together that when someone falls, they also take down those around them, creating a domino effect. Organ damage, usually to the lungs and heart, internal bleeding, or muscle damage can occur. Other injuries include muscle damage, spinal injuries, broken ribs, and fractures. Some survivors of a crowd crush say that the crowd pressure can cause the limbs to go numb. Muscle damage can lead to muscle tissues releasing proteins and electrolytes into the blood, damaging the heart and kidneys.

8. Keep your hands up.

If you get caught in a dense crowd, take a boxer stance with arms a few centimeters around the ribs and lungs so you can breathe.

9. Conserve your energy.

Don’t shout or panic; stay calm to conserve energy and oxygen. Go with the flow of the crowd, do not move against it. Keep your head upright for maximum air.

10. Help each other.

A united crowd will more likely survive than a crowd of individuals. Be kind to others and offer help when possible. This will benefit everyone, including yourself.