How to behave in a crowd

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Rules of conduct that can save your health and even your life.

Oddly enough, but winter, both in Russia and in neighboring countries, is a traditionally active season of social and political life. From trips to the skating rink, New Year's festivities and open-air festive concerts to rallies - everywhere you, one way or another, find yourself in crowded places. How to behave in a crowd? Here are some simple yet effective tips.

1. Don't try to get into the thick of it. As a rule, in an effort to see “what is happening there” people themselves create a crush in which it is difficult to breathe and where no one will see anything except the front rows. In such a situation, it is still impossible to normally take photos, record video or sound - let alone look at something. If there are no seating areas at a mass event, either arrive early to be closer to the stage, or simply sit quietly in the crowd where you can stand and move freely.

2. Do not bend over to pick up what has fallen. If you drop a glove, a camera cover, a key ring, or a child's toy while people are moving, then the best thing you can do is just follow the crowd. Do not try to stop abruptly and pick up the fallen thing: you can be injured or accidentally knocked down.

3. Do not start running after someone / catching up / running against the crowd. If you see someone you know or that someone is already rushing or running away, do not start following them. Spontaneous running in a calmly standing or slowly walking crowd (entering a stadium, exiting a concert, movement of protesters) can provoke panic and is a favorite technique of those who decided to create riots.

4. Do not give in to the call "forward / backward / left / right!" from an undefined person from the crowd. Only a person from the stage from among the organizers can call the participants of any organized event to something. And even then, think about the order, request or message that is being voiced to you. You are not a creature without will, so even in euphoria, joy, irritation or tension, try to reflect on what you are doing personally, even if everyone else around is going somewhere, running, shouting, throwing or catching something.

5. Avoid contact with people who hide their face with masks, bandanas, scarves, bandages. These can be specially trained provocateurs, law enforcement officers, people with criminal intent, or just hooligans. In any case, if they try to force you to do something, provoke verbal or physical conflict, chant aggressive calls or start a fight, you should quickly get away from such.

6. Do not try to climb on poles, canopies, fences or fences. In the desire to photograph or capture on video what is happening, people who have never done physical activity suddenly discover miracles of dexterity and think that they have become industrial climbers and professional photographers. If you are determined to break your leg, arm or neck, fall on someone or drop a part of the fence on the participants, you can safely climb higher. But we advise you to be guided by your self-preservation instinct and common sense, because not a single successful photo in an amateur album or social network is worth your health. In addition, security at such events can misinterpret your intentions and apply harsh measures.

7. Do not wear long scarves, dresses with a hem or train, shoes with long laces. In a crowded, cramped and confined space, there is a high risk of catching on something or getting confused. In the case of laces and a train, you may fall, in the case of a scarf, injure your neck or face the risk of suffocation.

8. If you suddenly fall in a crowd, try to group. If it so happened that you lost your balance and fell for reasons that depend or do not depend on you, immediately roll over on your side, group, try to protect your head with your hands. If at this moment the crowd is moving, try to get up on all fours as quickly as possible and crawl away from the main direction in which people are walking. If you saw that someone fell next to you, try to pick that person up as quickly as possible and help him get out of the thick of it.

9. If you notice something unusual, orient yourself in the situation. Outbreaks, explosions, a fight, noise, strange movement, the appearance of a car or other vehicle in the crowd, which should not be there, most likely, a provocation or something that poses a threat to the health of the majority of those present. Don't get any closer to this strange event or object. Restrain those who want to “go see”. Sometimes it's better to leave quickly before the bulk of the crowd reacts. Do not make noise or shout so as not to provoke panic. To leave or stay is solely your choice.

10. Leave the children at home. Unless it's a children's matinee, in other cases - from a concert of your favorite band to a political rally - leave them at home, with their grandparents, family friends, or a nanny. Children are always in a losing position in the crowd: they are smaller, lighter, slower, more vulnerable and get tired faster, give in to panic and the negative influence of what is happening. After obtaining a passport, your children can do whatever they see fit. Until then, let them stay at home, especially if the event is intense, noisy and crowded.