After learning the shocking news of Itaewon Stampede accident that caused 156 death, you might want to know how to keep yourself safe in the same situation.
When in a crowd, what warning signs should you look out for that suggest the area is getting dangerously dense?
According to British crowd study expert, G. Keith Still, things get “uncomfortable” once density reaches five people per square meter.
To get a sense of what that looks like, take a look at the illustration below.
Each square represents 25 square meters. On the left square is how a crowd would look if there’s one person per square meter.
In the middle square, it shows three people per meter square. Busy, but not packed. You still have personal space.
And on the right side is how it looks like for five people per meter square. You begin to bump against others standing around you. It may still be safe, but things could go wrong if something unexpected happens.. such as pushing or shoving. This also is the point where fatal crushing can occur.
So then how do you reduce risks and increase your chance of survival in a dangerous crowd situation? There are two main steps according to a safety expert that you can take.
First, is to secure your own breathing zone while staying on your feet.
And second, if you lose your footing and fall, make every effort to get into the fetal position.
“When you’re standing up, stuck in a dense crowd, keep your hands up. Place your arms and elbows around your shoulders to protect your chest and create space to breathe. When you fall down, protect your chest by getting into the fetal position. In this position, your legs and arms help make room for your lungs to breathe.”
The expert advises, however, that the best thing that can be done is for public safety officials or event organizers to monitor crowd density in the first place.
And on an individual level, avoid entering a large crowd, or escape from it, as soon as you sense danger.
Source: Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News