Crowd collapses and crushes

Understanding Crowd Collapses: A Dangerous Reality

Crowd collapses occur when a body of people becomes dangerously overcrowded, with density reaching up to five people per square meter. At higher densities, pressure can push individuals off their feet or crush them while still upright. Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be in such a situation? Imagine being pressed so tightly that you lose the ability to move voluntarily, just like an individual occupying a small oval space. But at high densities, this space is compressed into something much smaller, making movement nearly impossible.

The Hidden Dangers of Crowd Incidents

While injuries from crowd incidents are underreported, studies estimate that 232 deaths and over 66,000 injuries occurred between 1992 and 2002. These numbers paint a grim picture of the hidden dangers lurking in crowded spaces. The average individual occupies a small oval space, but at high densities, individuals become pressed against each other, losing their ability to move freely.

Progression of Crowd Collapses

Crowd collapses can progress through a series of events, with individuals being swept into a void when they fall. This creates a bigger void and increases the risk of asphyxiation or trampling. At higher densities, crowd crushes occur where people are crushed together, leading to asphyxiation. These scenarios highlight the critical importance of understanding how crowds behave under pressure.

The Myth of Panic

It’s important to dispel the myth that mass fatalities in crowd incidents are caused by panic. In reality, Paul Torrens argues that incidents involving crowds are often reported as results of panic, but this can be misleading from the real causes of crowd incidents, such as crowd collapse and crush.

The Role of Organizational Failures

Crowd collapses are often the result of organizational failures. These failures can stem from inadequate planning, lack of proper crowd management strategies, or insufficient infrastructure to handle high-density crowds. Simple crowd management strategies, including organization and traffic control, such as crowd barriers, can prevent most major crowd disasters.

Prevention Strategies

Prevention is key in avoiding crowd collapses and crushes. Simple crowd management strategies can make a significant difference. These include:

• Organizing events with proper planning and infrastructure
• Implementing traffic control measures to manage crowd flow
• Using barriers effectively, but understanding their potential risks

The Double-Edged Sword of Barriers

Barriers can be both a solution and a cause of a crush, depending on the situation. Lack of feedback from people being crushed to the crowd pressing behind can lead to problems. Inexperienced security officers who assume people’s behavior is voluntary and dangerous can make matters worse.

Risk Factors

Several factors increase the risk of crowd collapse and crush incidents:

• High crowd density (five people per square meter)
• Feeling touched on all four sides or shock waves traveling through the crowd
• Remaining upright, avoiding walls and obstructions

A Historical Perspective

The 1883 Victoria Hall disaster in Sunderland, England, led to the requirement of crash bars by various building codes. This event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proper crowd management strategies.

Conclusion: Crowd Safety and Responsibility

In conclusion, understanding and preventing crowd collapses is not just about avoiding panic; it’s about recognizing organizational failures and taking proactive measures to ensure safety. By implementing simple yet effective crowd management strategies, we can significantly reduce the risk of tragic incidents. Remember, every individual has a role in ensuring their own and others’ safety in crowded spaces.