When too many people squish into one space, breathing becomes difficult.
A recent Halloween celebration in Seoul’s Itaewon transformed from a night of revelry and fun to a deadly scene. The preventable surge ended in at least 151 people dying as the crowd became too big to handle.
Here’s a look at how people die in large crowds and how can you protect yourself from harm.
Compression asphyxia
Deadly crowd surges are devastating events that lead to loss of life. As the world’s population grows and events are promoted in an instant online, the chance for things to turn deadly could potentially arise with greater frequency. Having crowd control measures in place is essential whenever large groups of people are going to congregate in order to ensure everyone goes home safely.
Dying from being compressed is something that may bring to mind a boa constrictor attack. Human crowds can have the same effect. however, stopping your ability to breathe.
Compression asphyxia can happen when a crowd becomes too big and people have no room to move. Things can become so tight that breathing becomes difficult, and sometimes impossible.
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When this happens, carbon dioxide begins to accumulate in the lungs and a person can’t exhale properly. Without the ability to inhale, not enough oxygen gets to the body’s brain and organs. In just a matter of minutes, or even seconds, this compression can cause a person to pass out. If they can’t regain their breathing soon, they die from organ failure and the brain stops working.
The deaths of ten concert goers at Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival in Houston in 2021 were also attributed to compression asphyxia when a lack of crowd-control led to deadly conditions.
What to do if you’re in a crowd that gets too big
The best prevention when it comes to death in a crowd are control measures that prevent too many people from gathering in one area at the same time. Understanding the event you’re planning to attend is also important. Ask yourself if it’s likely to be well-planned with enough security.
According to the Anaheim Fire Department, if you see a large, dense crowd forming, get out of the area as soon as possible. If you do get caught in the flurry, experts advise that you try your best to stay on your feet. Put your arms in front of you in a boxer’s pose to save yourself room to breathe. Don’t bend down to pick up anything you drop. Move diagonally in the same direction as the crowd’s wave in order to reach a spot with fewer people. Don’t move against the crowd, as moving against the wave can cause you to be caught in it, unable to get out.
Crowd surges are terrifying and can happen without participants taking note of the rising danger. If you arrive at an event and it already looks like too many people are already there reconsider your plans. It could save your life.
For more on the events in Seoul, click here.
photo credits: Senohrabek/Shutterstock.com
