New Year's eve party, Concerts, sports event, movie theaters, public transportation and in many other situations, you come across a huge crowd. A lot of the time surrounding yourself with fun people can enlighten your day. But crowds can be unpredictable, and their behavior can be dangerous. So here are some tips for staying safe in a crowd, whether it's on a New Year's eve party, a sports stadium, or a music concert.
- If it is a closed hall, make sure you familiarize yourself with all the exit locations. And, when finding your spot at a crowded event, avoid places with limited access to exits.
- Make sure you carry a small bottle of sanitizer with you. So, in case you feel like eating something, you can just wash your hands with it and go for the food.
- To stay safe in crowds leave the expensive jewellery at home as it can only make you more vulnerable to crime. Also, leave the extra credit cards at home and only carry what you need in a concealed place. Avoid storing anything of value in your pant pockets. Instead, consider using a money belt hidden beneath your clothing or use interior coat pockets. Also, never put anything on the ground and keep bags/purse close to the body to stay away from pick-pocketers.
- Loud rock and roll music can damage your hearing permanently. So be sure to carry a set of ear plugs. They will come in handy if you end up standing near the speakers.
- Pre-plan the meeting place with your friends and family before you even reach the location. Also, arrange a memorable place where you will meet up in case you get separated and can't reach each other by phone.
- Try to always be on the side of the crowd (near the walls) because in the event on a stampede, it is the people who are in the middle of the crowd that will get hurt the most. In the rare event of a stampede, try to move with the crowd and slowly work your way to the side until you get to a wall. Once you are at the wall, press yourself against it until the crowd dissipates, or you find a better exit.
- Don't forget to carry extra food and water to take care of you and your family's nutrition and hydration needs. If you plan to eat at the venue, it's important to consider food hygiene. Check out the vendor and make sure that the staff works on clean surface with designated utensils and chopping boards. Staff with dirty hands or fingernails, dirty aprons or long hair that isn't tied back are some of the danger signs of low standard of food hygiene.
- Do not drink alcohol at a concert or sports event. You need to remain sober to have a good judgment of the situations. This will keep you safe in case of any emergency. In case you plan to drink, limit yourself to just a couple of alcoholic drinks.
- To avoid searching for parking areas, leave a bit early so that you can reach your destination early when there is less crowd.
- Leave a bit early so that you can beat the crowd rushing to leave the venue after the concert. You may miss the last number but you will get out much more easily and safely.
With a little bit of precaution and the above safety tips, you can protect yourself from a lot of unforeseeable circumstances.
