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Crowd Crush What is it, and how to avoid it

What Is A Crowd Crush?

A crowd crush is a fatal phenomenon where masses of people get funneled into a small space to the extent that they have difficulty breathing. In the worst situations, they lose consciousness and may eventually die. In some cases, people in the front of the crowd could fall and cause trampling. Crowd crushes happen mainly because there is a lack of crowd control.

What Happened In Itaewon, South Korea?

Tragedy struck Itaewon, South Korea on October 29 that left 154 dead and 133 injured. Masses of people, mostly in their teens and 20's, gathered in Itaewon, a district of the capital, Seoul, for an annual Halloween festival that day. It was the first time in three years that this event took place because of the pandemic. Therefore, more people attended the event than in the past years. A lot of the festivities took place in a narrow alleyway that was four meters wide (13 feet), and it was a downward hill. Because of its small area and the huge number of attendees, the alleyway was packed, and it was easy for people in the front of the crowd to trip and fall due to the downward hill which caused piling.

There was a lot of confusion. Crowds are not uncommon in Seoul, so it was difficult to recognize that there was something terribly wrong. In addition, with the blaring of music from clubs and bars, it was hard to hear the screams of help, and the shouting of the police officers who were trying to help the trapped people were often mistaken as partygoers.

The actual cause of this tragedy is yet to be identified.

AstroWorld, November 5, 2021

Something similar to the Itaewon incident happened at Travis Scott's concert, AstroWorld, on November 5, 2021. Again, this happened because there was a lack of crowd control. However, in this event, only eight people were killed while in Itaewon, over 100 were killed, which is an unusual number for a crowd crush.

How To Recognize A Crowd Crush

Evaluate your surroundings. If you are bumping against one or two other people, there is slight danger. It may be smart to try to move away from the center of the crowd before it gets too dangerous. If you cannot freely move your arms and if there are people on all four sides of your body, you are in danger of a crowd crush.

Tips On Surviving A Crowd Crush

  1. Stay alert and look around you. Try to locate where the crowd is the most dense and calmly maneuver your way to where the crowd thins out. Remember to look up as well; there may be fences and ledges that you could climb onto to escape the crowd.
  2. Leave while you can. The more you wait, the more danger you will be in. As soon as you get uncomfortable, do not hesitate to leave. By leaving the congested area, not only are you saving yourself, but also it saves other people around you because there is more space for those who decide to stay.
  3. Fight to stay upright. If someone falls in a crowd crush, it creates a domino effect, tripping people around them. If you fall, the weight of other people will prevent you from being able to get back up. Retain your balance to the best of your ability.
  4. Save your breath. Although it may be tempting to panic and scream, it is best to save your oxygen by avoiding screaming and controlling your breathing.
  5. Fold your arms up. If the pressure becomes immense, fold your arms up like a boxer. This way, you can protect your ribcage and allow you some space to breathe.
  6. Go with the flow. Do not fight against the flow. When pushed, it may be tempting to push back, but this is how you lose your precious energy. Let yourself be carried with the flow and always keep your balance.
  7. Avoid barriers. The previous tip does not apply if you are close to barriers that you cannot climb like walls and pillars. Try to maneuver yourself away from barriers. The first victims of crowd crushes are often those who are pressured against these barriers.

Next time you attend a big event that draw large crowds, remember how to recognize a possible crowd crush, and remember these tips. They could potentially save your life and even others'.

Credits:

Flickr