How to Survive in a Panic
Enochlophobia or fear of the crowd is a very real phobia. And when you are in the middle of a panicky crowd rushing to get out, that fear seems perfectly rational.
Just this week, a crowd of New Yorkers stood outside a tiny, clogged subway station entrance, waiting inches from passing trains. Videos circulated on Twitter about the still crowd and small space. In the event of an emergency, such as a fire or a train failure, the chances of metro passengers safely getting out of that station would be slim at best.
But what if you are in a concert venue or stadium, where the space is even tighter and denser from people? How exactly do you survive the crowd of people and swaying bodies on the way to the exit? We spoke with one crowd expert about how to survive in such a dangerous situation as a human crush, and how to react when everything is in complete disarray.
Do not panic
According to Paul Wertheimer, an expert on the crowd, which advises the concert halls and the founder of Crowd Management Strategies, a stampede happen because of the panic, so you should not do. He said that the responsible place should clarify the emergency exit processes from the very beginning, but their absence could provoke chaos:
The lack of directions, information and directions to a safe haven creates confusion and the wrong choice of safety of life. They cause self-preservation defenses, panic, and make people fight each other for survival.
Unlike movies that depict crowded surroundings, the biggest threat is not necessarily falling and being trampled, it’s a lack of air when you are upright (this is called compression asphyxiation ). Remain calm, focused, and always aware of your surroundings. “Despite all the urge, do not yell or shout, as you will be wasting oxygen,” added Wertheimer.
Keep up with the crowd
It is tempting to resist the movement of the crowd in order to survive while trying to stay put. According to Wertheimer, this is not the best move. You are unlikely to overcome the strength of the crowd and run the risk of injury. Instead, keep up with the pace and don’t kneel, stop, push others, or pick up dropped objects (the risk isn’t worth it!)
The CDC recommends using a “boxing” approach when panicking in large crowds: keep your arms close to your chest and stand firmly on your feet.
Look for alternative exits
Yes, if everyone is running for the exit, this intuitively seems like the best option, but not always the most sensible. “In general, [finding the nearest exit] is sound advice, unless everyone decides to do the same thing at the same time,” Wertheimer said. “The result was a crowd. I recommend considering an alternative solution, even if it turns out to be further. “
Move to the periphery or find a stable structure
When in a crowd, try to get out of the center of the crowd, where you are least likely to get to the exit. Fly in and out in a zig-zag pattern around people (rather than in a straight line that is likely to push people in front of you) to the periphery of the crowd.
If that fails, simply find a stationary structure where the crowd will be forced to disperse so you can stay safe and hide. Don’t assume a doorway is a safe place too. According to the New York Times , areas such as doorways create a “multidimensional push.” In other words, they create a space in which no one can move because the crowd is not moving in one direction, creating the effect of a bottleneck for people.
If you fall, cover your head
If you find yourself on the ground, be sure to get up if you can. But if that’s not possible, Wertheimer recommends curling up on your side and covering your head with your hands to minimize damage. Once the crowd has died down, try to get up again and head to the periphery so that you can safely leave the site, get your bearings and call your loved ones.