A crowd crush can be deadly. The Itaewon tragedy is an example of a deadly crowd crush. In the tragedy, at least 153 people died when a huge crowd surged into a narrow street.
It is estimated that 100,000 people came to the narrow street for an unmasked Halloween celebration, the first since the beginning of the pandemic.
However, it all went south when the alley was densely packed with people unable to move. It was not long before people were crushed due to the high number of people packed in a tight space.
First responders and members of the public tried to administer CPR to the people laying unconscious.
This is what a crowd crush can do. It is truly a horrifying thing to witness, and even more terrifying to be in one. Here are some things that you should know in case you find yourself in a crowd crush.
Things to know on how to survive a crowd crush
1. Be aware of signs of danger
When you are caught in a crowd crush, it can be very difficult to get out of one. Make sure that you are aware of any danger signs before it is too late.
The best thing that you can do to avoid a crowd crush is to avoid putting yourself in any situations that can lead to it. Many people don’t realise the dangers of a crowd. Too many people in a single spot is a recipe for disaster.
If the crowd around you is getting bigger or you find yourself hard to move, it is a good idea to move out of it before anything happens.
2. Make sure that you don’t fall
This may seem like it is not important but in fact, it is one of the most important thing that you need to be aware of. Make sure that you are standing straight.
If you fall, it can be very difficult to get back up, especially if there are a lot of people. Falling also not only endangers yourself, it also endangers others also.
3. Make sure that there is enough space around your chest
Lack of oxygen in a crowded space is the main cause people fall unconscious, which ultimately causes people to die. In a tight space, your lungs does not have enough room to function.
Make sure that you maintain a space just enough for you to breathe. You can do so by creating a circle in front of you with your arms. A tiny bit of space, even if it’s 1 centimeter, is enough for you to breathe.
4. Follow the flow of the crowd
Everything happens in a chain reaction when there are many people around. It’s a snowball effect: if you push one person, they’ll push another person. If you continue to push, the force will only increase, and you can expect the same result to return to you.
Don’t fight the flow if you feel the crowd pushing. The best thing that you can do is to follow the flow.
5. Avoid walls and hard objects.
Pushing against a crowd is already deadly, imagine pushing against the wall. You cannot follow the flow of the crowd, because the wall is preventing you.
Try not to stand near walls and hard objects.
Sources: Houston Public Media