Trapped in a crowd? Beginning to Panic? Think MOB!
Have you ever been in a crowd packed so tight that you couldn’t move? Did you find yourself being pushed along by the crowd unable to stop or change directions? Think about fatal crowd disasters such as the stampede in South Korea on Halloween this year, the Astroworld Festival in Houston in 2021, the 2020 Pearl Jam concert, the Roskilde Festival in 2000, and the 1979 Who concert in Cincinnati. These tragedies made me wonder how to protect yourself if you are stuck in a crowd that is losing control.
Asphyxiation is the most frequent cause of death in these situations. In order to stay alive, take these three actions: maintain your footing, seek a safe exit, and if you fall, protect yourself. To remember those actions, use the acronym, “MOB.”
“M” for Maintain
Maintain your footing. Remaining standing is critical because of the dangers associated with falling and getting trampled underfoot. When you fall, you create an opening and the crowd pushes people in to fill the opening. It’s not a conscious decision, it’s just physics. If you drop your phone or your purse or your backpack, don’t bend over and pick it up. Just leave it!
“O” for Observe
Upon entering the venue, observe your escape routes. Knowing alternative exits and paths away…
