Mass casualties are often the result of a stampede when a peaceful crowd can quickly turn into a chaotic mass. Knowing how to escape a chaotic crowd and survive is a vital skill for anyone, especially children – the most vulnerable and at-risk group.
Quick Tips for Escaping a Chaotic Crowd
Tragedies, Events, and Statistics
The highly charged nature of large events such as sports, artistic performances, or even simple shopping sprees where people push to grab discounted items can transform a lively crowd into a frantic mob. Tragedy strikes when collective fear arises, triggered by an unusual incident causing the crowd to flee en masse.
Inform children about horrific tragedies, such as the stampede that occurred on the Diamond Bridge in neighboring Cambodia on the evening of November 22, 2010, resulting in 456 deaths, including 8 Vietnamese citizens. Most of the casualties were women and children.
A crowd waiting and pushing to buy branded goods.
Information, images, and statistics can significantly impact children. This way, they will be more attentive and focused on the skills you will impart afterwards.
Recognizing Danger
It is better for children to know how to avoid potential dangers than to find themselves in a situation where they must deal with them. Here are some essential tips to guide them.
- Observe and note all exits at the venue as soon as you arrive. Familiarize yourself with the surroundings and identify alternative escape routes. Knowing where exits are will help in quickly escaping danger.
- Understand the terrain where you are standing. Crowds can be particularly dangerous when moving over wet, uneven, or slippery ground, or near ponds and lakes, as falling can lead to serious injury.
- Be aware of the general atmosphere of the event; chaotic scenes can often be anticipated. If you begin to feel uncomfortable, consider leaving. Show children that this can be difficult as they may have traveled a long way or waited to attend the event, but they should remember that just a few seconds can make a difference.
- Avoid the worst-case scenario of being trapped in a crowd, which is being pushed against a wall or barrier. Just 6 to 7 people pushing in one direction can create enough force to bend a steel railing or topple a brick wall. In stampedes, most fatalities occur due to overwhelming pressure that makes it impossible to breathe, resulting in suffocation.
Image: CTV.
Surviving in a Panic-Stricken Crowd
- First and foremost, remind children of a vital rule: they should not participate in events with large crowds until they are mature enough. Women and children are always the most vulnerable in unexpected situations.
- Teach children that if they find themselves in a moving crowd, they should not resist, avoid trying to go against the flow, and never stand still or sit down, as this will lead to being knocked over and trampled. Don’t try to run away quickly, as this increases the risk of being shoved and falling.
- Guide children on the principle of crowd movement; it’s like a wave that always has moments of calm. These are opportunities to move. The best way to navigate is diagonally, always looking for open space between people to take advantage of the chance to shift sideways and gradually make their way to the periphery.
- Children should keep their hands in front of their chest like a boxer to protect themselves and facilitate movement.
- If they fall, they should quickly get back up; if they cannot, they should move by crawling in the same direction as the crowd. If that is also not possible, they should curl up into a fetal position.
