Crowd Crush Is Not A Stampede
WHAT TO DO IN A CROWD CRUSH – it happens fast and in varied venues. Even if you think this will never apply to you, taking a moment to learn what to do in this situation could save your life and the lives of those around you. An informational thread.
Crowd Crush is not a Stampede — Understand the Danger. A tragic event in Seoul brings home the danger of being in a crowd. People want to blame those who were there, but in reality, crowd crush kills people who no longer have control over their situation.
Crowd crush can occur when the density of a crowd becomes greater than four people per square meter. At that point physics takes over as it gets progressively more crowded.
When the crowd reached six to seven per square meter, people are so tightly packed together that they are no longer individuals. A shockwave can travel through these people like a wave through fluid. In Itaewon it’s estimated it was 8 to 10 per sqm.
If a single person falls, or more people push into the edge of the crowd, such as those still coming through a tunnel or narrow street, it precipitates further crushing. People become unable to draw a breath.
It is often referred to as a ‘stampede’ but that is not only inaccurate but also insulting. Stampede implies people caught in it have a choice. They do not. And those on the periphery often have no idea what’s going on.
Situations we need to be aware of with the potential for crowd crush are venues and areas where large crowds are trying to move in a certain direction to either reach a destination or to get away from a threat.
Those at the rear push forward, not aware that those in the front have no place to go and are being crushed. It is estimated that a crush pressing against a fence can bend one designed to withstand 1,000 pounds of force.
What to do? Upon entering any enclosed space or traveling along a route, check for all exits. People will tend, in a panic, to go out the way they came in, even though other ways out exist.
Crowd crush happens fast. If you hear people start complaining or yelling out, things are becoming unsafe. Get out fast. Wear sensible shoes. Staying on your feet is critical. You do not want to fall. For outdoor events check maps for routes before going.
If trapped: stay on your feet. Keep your arms from being pinned to your sides. Protect your chest. People often die in crowd crushes because of compression asphyxia, which means you’re packed in so tightly your lungs can’t expand inside your chest.
Move with the flow, not against it. Keep your feet in a boxer-like stance. One foot in front of the other. Knees slightly bent. Use your dominant hand to grab your opposite forearm, which creates a sort of shield in front of your chest with your elbows as a brace against others.
Do not drag children. Put them on your shoulders. If you drop something, don’t bend to pick it up. Move diagonally to try to get out of the crowd toward and exit you scoped out beforehand.
