WHAT TO DO IN A CROWD CRUSH - an informational thread in light of the Itaewon-don Seoul tragedy
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
ACCESSING IF SOMEONE IS RESPONSIVE
Just because someone is down does not mean they need CPR. The first step is to see if they are conscious. Asking "Are you alright?" and shaking their shoulders is a good place to start. If they don't move or make a noise, move to the next step.
Just because someone is down does not mean they need CPR. The first step is to see if they are conscious. Asking "Are you alright?" and shaking their shoulders is a good place to start. If they don't move or make a noise, move to the next step.
CHECK FOR BREATHING
Tilt their chin up to open their airways. Then, level your eyes to their chest and see if it is rising and falling. Listen for breathing (if it isn't too loud). You can also put a hand on their chest or a finger under their nose to feel for warm breath.
Tilt their chin up to open their airways. Then, level your eyes to their chest and see if it is rising and falling. Listen for breathing (if it isn't too loud). You can also put a hand on their chest or a finger under their nose to feel for warm breath.
BEGIN CPR
If they are unresponsive and do not breathe for ten seconds, they need CPR. It is best to learn CPR with dummies and an instructor, but if this is not accessable to you I will explain how it is done since I am CPR trained.
If they are unresponsive and do not breathe for ten seconds, they need CPR. It is best to learn CPR with dummies and an instructor, but if this is not accessable to you I will explain how it is done since I am CPR trained.
HAND POSITION
For an adult, your hands should be laced together (not side by side) pressing on the sternum.
For an adult, your hands should be laced together (not side by side) pressing on the sternum.
PRESSURE
Get past any hesitance to pump hard. You should be pressing 5cm (2in) into their chest. CPR requires forceβ more than you would usually be comfortable applying to a person. But this is absolutely necessary to reach their heart.
Get past any hesitance to pump hard. You should be pressing 5cm (2in) into their chest. CPR requires forceβ more than you would usually be comfortable applying to a person. But this is absolutely necessary to reach their heart.
CRACK
In 30% if cases, breaks and fractures occur from life-saving compressions. This cracking sound can scare people since it's not depicted in movies, but know that it is normal. Don't let it startle you out of resuscitating someone.
In 30% if cases, breaks and fractures occur from life-saving compressions. This cracking sound can scare people since it's not depicted in movies, but know that it is normal. Don't let it startle you out of resuscitating someone.
BEAT
Compress to the tune of either "Stayin' Alive" by Bee Gees or "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen, whichever is most memorable. Both use the correct rhythm for compressions.
If you don't like those songs, look up which of your favorite songs have a BPM of 100-120.
Compress to the tune of either "Stayin' Alive" by Bee Gees or "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen, whichever is most memorable. Both use the correct rhythm for compressions.
If you don't like those songs, look up which of your favorite songs have a BPM of 100-120.
DO YOU ADD THE BREATH?
If you add rescue breaths it helps, but if you don't feel comfortable doing it, don't let that stop you from doing CPR. Breath-free version of CPR is taught to make it more accessable. Compressions and no breaths is much better than nothing at all.
If you add rescue breaths it helps, but if you don't feel comfortable doing it, don't let that stop you from doing CPR. Breath-free version of CPR is taught to make it more accessable. Compressions and no breaths is much better than nothing at all.
BREATHS
If you add rescue breaths, count your compressions. After 30 (if you lose count just estimate), tilt their chin upwards to open the airway, pinch their nose, and fit your mouth over theirs. Breathe out twice. You will see their chest rising if youre doing it correctly.
If you add rescue breaths, count your compressions. After 30 (if you lose count just estimate), tilt their chin upwards to open the airway, pinch their nose, and fit your mouth over theirs. Breathe out twice. You will see their chest rising if youre doing it correctly.
TIRED
Continue the cycle. It requires a lot of energy, and you will probably get tired. If feel yourself going slower than the song, shout for someone to help you out and step in. If they dont know what they are doing, do your best to guide. Swap when you notice them slowing.
Continue the cycle. It requires a lot of energy, and you will probably get tired. If feel yourself going slower than the song, shout for someone to help you out and step in. If they dont know what they are doing, do your best to guide. Swap when you notice them slowing.
DON'T STOP
In movies you may see people sitting back after a minute and closing the victims eyes sorrowfully. Don't do this, Keep going until first responders arrive. If the person is going to be resuscitated, they need the oxygen going to their brain to keep it from dying.
In movies you may see people sitting back after a minute and closing the victims eyes sorrowfully. Don't do this, Keep going until first responders arrive. If the person is going to be resuscitated, they need the oxygen going to their brain to keep it from dying.
DEFRIBILLATOR
First responders may try to shock them awake. In cases where there are a lot of injured people, there may only be one responder and they'll need your assistance. Defribillators could be a whole seperate thread, it may be good to YouTube how they work just in case.
First responders may try to shock them awake. In cases where there are a lot of injured people, there may only be one responder and they'll need your assistance. Defribillators could be a whole seperate thread, it may be good to YouTube how they work just in case.
That's all. Hopefully with more awareness, such horrible tragedies can be prevented in the future. My heart and thoughts are with South Korea today ππ°π·
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