This Saturday, October 29, Seoul saw a deadly stampede as residents celebrated Halloween. But how do you behave in the face of a mass movement?
How do you survive a stampede stuck in the middle of a crowd? The movement that claimed the lives of more than 150 people in Seoul this Saturday, October 29, reminds us of the danger of overly dense gatherings.
when are you in danger
According to a 2014 public statement by the Samu and the Emergency Services of France, the risks related to population density within the same area vary according to classification, location and type of public. Therefore, given an audience described as “quiet”, “audience seated or standing but with less than 2 people per m²”, the risk is considered low.
The risk is medium in view of an “audience lineup and packed at more than 2 per m²”, as the hard core of large concerts, for example, the Samu specifies.
Finally, the risk of “waiting areas and gatherings for more than 2 hours with a population of more than 3 people per m²” is classified as “high”.
Specifically, according to researcher Mehdi Moussaïd, quoted by The Conversation 2019, as soon as you “involuntarily touch one or two of your neighbors at the same time”, it is better to move “from the core of the traffic jam”. If, blocked by the crowd, vYour hands “having trouble getting your hand to your face” means you may be in danger.
When you get into a crowd
When you find yourself stuck in a compact crowd despite your precautions, good reflexes can save you. On his YouTube channel, Medhi Moussaïd lists ten tips to keep in mind.
Among them, it is appropriate to be in a dangerous situation as much as possible Keep calm, stand up and don’t shout to conserve oxygen.
The specialist also advises Don’t try to resist the pressure of the crowd but to let yourself be “carried by the wave” by simply trying to stay on your feet.
The position of the boxer’s guard, ie arms crossed in front of youalso helps protect your rib cage.