What To Do In A Crowd Crush

1) WHEN YOU ENTER A VENUE, MAKE NOTE OF THE EXITS

If you are attending a concert or large event, make sure you make note of where the emergency exits are when entering. Once it gets too crowded, the main exit may not be the most viable option. pic.twitter.com/iYjItx9f46

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

2) LEARN HOW TO WATCH CROWD DENSITY

This may be the most important step in the thread. Once crowd density reaches 6 people per square meter or more, it becomes very dangerous and you may not be able to get out anymore. Prevention is key. pic.twitter.com/SGIWaJkNsq

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

3) UNDERSTAND WHERE CROWD CRUSH HAPPENS

Most crowd crush deaths occur in small spaces such as alleyways, moshpits, or exit hallways of venues. This is why it's best to leave early and not wait for things to get dangerous since others may get the same idea and crush at the exit. pic.twitter.com/9rJ5pG4b5T

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

ALERT PEOPLE

Since crowd crushes occur in loud environments, people outside the crush often have no idea what's happening. If you are at an organized event and notice a crowd crush, get up high. Alert security and event organizers to stop the music and make everyone aware.

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

MAKE SPACE AROUND YOUR CHEST

If you are stuck in the crowd and feel its density increasing, make space around your chest with your arms. Pining your arms to your sides or above your head leaves your chest open to being compressed. pic.twitter.com/saPlSZ9uL8

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

DO NOT TAKE OFF BACKPACK

Your first instinct may be to make more space by removing a bulky backpack and putting it on the floor. This is a huge hazard. People being pushed into it may trip and case a pileup.

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

GO WITH THE FLOW

Once the crowd reaches 8-9 people per square meter, those inside can't move freely and the crowd behaves like a liquid. You will feel yourself being moved in different directions, but it's important you don't fight it. This clip demonstrates one of these waves. pic.twitter.com/63aRi3KSCO

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

DO NOT SCREAM AND PUSH

If you begin acting panicked, hostile, and inconsiderate of those around you, it will become contageous. In this situation, pushing one person can lead to a horrible chain reaction. Again, staying calm and moving with the crowd is the safest choice.

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

DO NOT FALL

This is pretty intuitive, but it's importance must be emphasized. Your top priority once the crowd crush starts is staying upright. Once you fall down, people will fall ontop of you or climb you. You won't be able to get back up.

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

AVOID WALLS

Most people who asphyxiate in crowd crushes are pushed against solid objects like floors, barriers, femces, or walls. Do your best to avoid becoming trapped against walls or even the back of someone trapped against a wall to increase your chances of survival.

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS ONLY IF YOU CAN

Access the risk first. If someone is slipping down and you are in the position to help them you should, but if you are unstable and someone is yanking on you trying to get up, it could result in both of you falling.

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

AFTERMATH

When the crowd thins there may be people on the floor. Since these things usually result from lack of event planning, there may not be enough medical personel to help right away. In this case, volunteers save lives. The next parts are about how and when to provide CPR.

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

MAKE SURE IT IS SAFE

Access the situation around you. Crowd surges have natural lulls and you must be certain you will be safe and that you will have the space to help someone before you decide to go check on them.

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

ACCESSING IF SOMEONE IS RESPONSIVE

Just because someone is down does not mean they need CPR. The first step is to see if they are conscious. Asking "Are you alright?" and shaking their shoulders is a good place to start. If they don't move or make a noise, move to the next step. pic.twitter.com/xMI56DXjha

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

CHECK FOR BREATHING

Tilt their chin up to open their airways. Then, level your eyes to their chest and see if it is rising and falling. Listen for breathing (if it isn't too loud). You can also put a hand on their chest or a finger under their nose to feel for warm breath. pic.twitter.com/kaMwsUYCe3

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

BEGIN CPR

If they are unresponsive and do not breathe for ten seconds, they need CPR. It is best to learn CPR with dummies and an instructor, but if this is not accessable to you I will explain how it is done since I am CPR trained.

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

HAND POSITION

For an adult, your hands should be laced together (not side by side) pressing on the sternum. pic.twitter.com/UFwadPJqKa

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

PRESSURE

Get past any hesitance to pump hard. You should be pressing 5cm (2in) into their chest. CPR requires force– more than you would usually be comfortable applying to a person. But this is absolutely necessary to reach their heart.

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

CRACK

In 30% if cases, breaks and fractures occur from life-saving compressions. This cracking sound can scare people since it's not depicted in movies, but know that it is normal. Don't let it startle you out of resuscitating someone.

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

BEAT

Compress to the tune of either "Stayin' Alive" by Bee Gees or "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen, whichever is most memorable. Both use the correct rhythm for compressions.

If you don't like those songs, look up which of your favorite songs have a BPM of 100-120. pic.twitter.com/SdJurV85vS

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

DO YOU ADD THE BREATH?

If you add rescue breaths it helps, but if you don't feel comfortable doing it, don't let that stop you from doing CPR. Breath-free version of CPR is taught to make it more accessable. Compressions and no breaths is much better than nothing at all.

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

BREATHS

If you add rescue breaths, count your compressions. After 30 (if you lose count just estimate), tilt their chin upwards to open the airway, pinch their nose, and fit your mouth over theirs. Breathe out twice. You will see their chest rising if youre doing it correctly. pic.twitter.com/iaMxD9Um6S

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

TIRED

Continue the cycle. It requires a lot of energy, and you will probably get tired. If feel yourself going slower than the song, shout for someone to help you out and step in. If they dont know what they are doing, do your best to guide. Swap when you notice them slowing.

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

DON'T STOP

In movies you may see people sitting back after a minute and closing the victims eyes sorrowfully. Don't do this, Keep going until first responders arrive. If the person is going to be resuscitated, they need the oxygen going to their brain to keep it from dying.

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

DEFRIBILLATOR

First responders may try to shock them awake. In cases where there are a lot of injured people, there may only be one responder and they'll need your assistance. Defribillators could be a whole seperate thread, it may be good to YouTube how they work just in case.

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022

That's all. Hopefully with more awareness, such horrible tragedies can be prevented in the future. My heart and thoughts are with South Korea today 💔🇰🇷 pic.twitter.com/loI5ElTZZz

— 🥀 (@belugasong) October 30, 2022