Posted by:
Amyjo
(
)
Date: September 25, 2015 06:39AM
Survival tips for dealing with crowding situations,
"[W]hatever the findings in Saudi Arabia -- and it must be remembered it is still unclear what caused the stampede -- there are certain universal precautions that apply to individuals, whatever the type of gathering, and wherever you live.
Put simply, we should all aim to take charge of our own personal safety when dealing with crowds. And, as I've learned from years spent working in disaster response, as well as conversations with specialists such as Paul Wertheimer, a leading expert on crowd management and safety, there's a science to staying safe in large groups.
Above all, be prepared. Hydrate. Wear appropriate shoes. Make sure you apply sunscreen if you're going to be outdoors. These small steps may seem minor, but when you need to move fast, a blister or sunburn can slow you down and even become critically dangerous.
Along with preparation comes some situational awareness. When you arrive at your event, take a look around for exits and the routes that make the most sense for you. Are stairs an issue for your toddler and her stroller? Does your spouse have trouble with poorly lit hallways? Remember that you may not be able to take advantage of the main exit if things start to get bad. Take these things into account before disaster strikes.
Next, keep tabs on your personal space and how you'll have to adjust to maintain it in a crush. If you feel the crowd getting too dense for comfort, get out before it gets worse. The most common danger is suffocation from too little air space, rather than trampling. If it's not possible to get out immediately, try to conserve your energy (don't shout or shove!) while following some of these key tips:
Don't let your arms get pinned to the side. Keep firm, well-spread footing (that's where good shoes come into play again) and keep your arms close to your chest. Don't resist the force of the crowd. Similar to a rip tide, the rush of the crowd will be stronger than your chance of withstanding it, so try to go with the flow as you look for openings (moments of stillness) to weave in and out of the surge in a diagonal, stop-and-go motion.
Finally, the most important thing you need to do while you're trying to get out of the crowd is avoid falling and keep those around you from falling as well. Help the people surrounding you, knowing that if someone near you goes down, your chances of escaping are greatly diminished. The fact is that in so many crises, your own individual chances of survival rise and fall with the people around you.
Tragedies like those that occurred in Saudi Arabia aren't inevitable. We seem to have become too used to deaths at religious events like the Hajj event, dismissing them as somehow part of the pilgrimage. They are not. Death does not need to be destiny."
http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/24/opinions/kayyem-hajj-stampede-deaths/