Survival Guide of Crowd Crush
1) WHEN YOU ENTER A VENUE, MAKE NOTE OF THE EXITS
If you are attending a concert or large event, make sure you make note of where the emergency exits are when entering. Once it gets too crowded, the main exit may not be the most viable option.
2) LEARN HOW TO WATCH CROWD DENSITY
This may be the most important step in the thread. Once crowd density reaches 6 people per square meter or more, it becomes very dangerous and you may not be able to get out anymore. Prevention is key.
3) UNDERSTAND WHERE CROWD CRUSH HAPPENS
Most crowd crush deaths occur in small spaces such as alleyways, moshpits, or exit hallways of venues. This is why it's best to leave early and not wait for things to get dangerous since others may get the same idea and crush at the exit.
4) ALERT PEOPLE
Since crowd crushes occur in loud environments, people outside the crush often have no idea what's happening. If you are at an organized event and notice a crowd crush, get up high. Alert security and event organizers to stop the music and make everyone aware.
5) MAKE SPACE AROUND YOUR CHEST
If you are stuck in the crowd and feel its density increasing, make space around your chest with your arms. Pining your arms to your sides or above your head leaves your chest open to being compressed. ARM UP!
6) DO NOT TAKE OFF BACKPACK
Your first instinct may be to make more space by removing a bulky backpack and putting it on the floor. This is a huge hazard. People being pushed into it may trip and case a pileup.
7)GO WITH THE FLOW
Once the crowd reaches 8-9 people per square meter, those inside can't move freely and the crowd behaves like a liquid. You will feel yourself being moved in different directions, but it's important you don't fight it. This clip demonstrates one of these waves.
8) DO NOT SCREAM AND PUSH
If you begin acting panicked, hostile, and inconsiderate of those around you, it will become contageous. In this situation, pushing one person can lead to a horrible chain reaction. Again, staying calm and moving with the crowd is the safest choice.
9) DO NOT FALL
This is pretty intuitive, but it's importance must be emphasized. Your top priority once the crowd crush starts is staying upright. Once you fall down, people will fall ontop of you or climb you. You won't be able to get back up.
10) AVOID WALLS
Most people who asphyxiate in crowd crushes are pushed against solid objects like floors, barriers, femces, or walls. Do your best to avoid becoming trapped against walls or even the back of someone trapped against a wall to increase your chances of survival
11) HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS ONLY IF YOU CAN
Access the risk first. If someone is slipping down and you are in the position to help them you should, but if you are unstable and someone is yanking on you trying to get up, it could result in both of you falling.
12) AFTERMATH
When the crowd thins there may be people on the floor. Since these things usually result from lack of event planning, there may not be enough medical personel to help right away. In this case, volunteers save lives. The next parts are about how and when to provide CPR.
13) MAKE SURE IT IS SAFE
Access the situation around you. Crowd surges have natural lulls and you must be certain you will be safe and that you will have the space to help someone before you decide to go check on them.
