Often, people attending events and other gatherings focus only on those. They are unaware of the dangers that lurk within crowds.
A key, oft overlooked risk, is, what if there is an incident? The knee-jerk reaction is mass hysteria, followed by herd instinct manifestation (where people think and act in the same way as the majority of those around them). It takes a minority (just five percent) to influence a crowd’s direction–and the other 95 percent follow without realizing it.
The thing with this behaviour is that it can trigger crowding, stampeding, trampling, and suffocation – which are the primary causes of multiple injuries and death in crowds.
Now that we have gotten that out of the way, how can you protect yourself, if the day ever comes when we can safely have crowded social gatherings?
Let us look at what preparations to make, precautions to take and preservation steps to activate.
Preparation:
°Do not plan to go to a crowded event alone. Use the “buddy system” – have at least one other person looking out for you (a helping hand in a crush or a stampede can mean the difference between life and death if you fall or become injured).
°If attending a ticketed event like a game or concert, leave a copy of your ticket and details with someone at home. They will know where to start looking if an incident occurs.
°Carry a cell phone, ID and a penlight in case of a power failure. The light is to see how to get out, the phone: to call for help and your ID shows who you are.
°Wear comfortable footwear and make sure the laces are properly tied so you do not trip and fall.
Stay safe!
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