Now many cities, having acquired the status of a million-plus population, receive additional opportunities such as participation in more federal programs. But, with the growth of city residents, the risk of a crowd and getting caught in it increases noticeably. Various processions holiday events, festivals imply gatherings of large numbers of people, which form a crowd. This phenomenon – the “crowd” – is recognized by sociologists as the most uncontrollable and dangerous for each of its participants.
How to have fun and not feel fear during large events, how to protect yourself and what actions will help avoid injuries, we will consider in this article.
First of all, you need to understand:
- what is a crowd?
- crowd types;
How to identify a crowd and what types it is divided into
In sociology, this phenomenon is understood as a large gathering of people who are in close proximity to each other. It is characterized by the lack of a common goal, structure and is short-term in nature. A spontaneous group of people, as a rule, arises suddenly.
Its danger lies in the fact that from the moment of its emergence the crowd begins to coexist as some kind of separate and independent life, completely disregarding the wishes and goals of its unwitting participants. Ensuring safety in a crowd depends on its type.
The following stand out:
- Spontaneous, which was formed by chance, and it does not have any leader or leader (for example, a queue, indoors)
- Slave. Characterized by the presence of a pre-selected person who controls it (rallies, processions)
- Passive or "herd". There is no strong emotional coloring, he behaves calmly, but has high potential. If suddenly some event occurs within the crowd that can emotionally involve a large number of people, then it will transform into the following form.
- Aggressive or active. The most dangerous and unpredictable phenomenon. Difficult to control. Causes significant casualties and injuries.
In order to avoid injury and involvement in unsightly activities, you need to know and adhere to crowd safety rules.
The influence of the crowd on the consciousness and behavior of an individual should not be underestimated. In a large crowd of people, the personality itself ceases to exist, it picks up general emotions, mood and actions. In psychology, there are many effects of collective behavior, for example, the effect of imitation, conformity, and group egoism.
Safety in Crowds: Rules of Conduct
If you go to an officially unauthorized rally, then know that this is an offense. Basic principles: do not take children with you, as there is a high probability that you will simply lose them in the crowd, and do not go there alone. Close people or friends will be able to help you in case of a dangerous situation.
How to protect yourself if you are planning to attend a mass event?
What to do if you find yourself inside a crowd?
Children are the first to suffer in a stampede, as they vertically challenged and they are difficult to spot in a crowd.
When ensuring safety in a crowd with a child, you should adhere to the following rules:
- The best option would be to put it on your neck and hold it tightly by the legs.
- If there are several adults, then they can stand around the child facing each other and move forward like that. The child will be like in a protective capsule.
- The child should always be in front of you, and not behind you, walking by the hand.
However, such a situation can be avoided. There is no need to join the protesters for the sake of curiosity. Try to stay away from large crowds of people, even on holidays. Remember that in a crowd you may be subject to action law enforcement. Do not resist, proving your innocence. Follow all their requirements. In such a situation, the police have absolutely no time to understand and find out who is who.
The main enemy in extreme conditions is panic. Sometimes it only takes a few seconds a sober look to the situation that has arisen in order to find a way out and escape.
Behavior in crowds both indoors and outdoors
Introduction
Conclusion
Study in advance the possible evacuation routes when visiting a place where there is an expected gathering of people. It's in your best interest. At the same time, do not ignore fences, stairs, courtyards, windows, emergency exits and routes.
1. Rules for safe behavior in crowds
The emergence of panic or general spontaneous aggression, the cause of which may be general hysteria provoked by mass protest, or fear caused by a fire or other disaster; or overly emotional Soccer game and much more, can turn a large number of ordinary people into a crowd that is capable of sweeping away and destroying everything in its path. Any mass event is a source of increased danger. About this, for example, in Lately right on entrance tickets warn the organizers of most rock concerts.
Social psychologists have identified several simple recommendations how to avoid becoming a victim of the crowd: do not go against the crowd; if necessary, cross the crowd (cross it tangentially or diagonally, while following the movement of the checkers piece); do not look into the eyes of people in the crowd and do not move with your eyes down on the ground (moving with your eyes down is the movement of the victim). The gaze should be directed just below the face, including the so-called peripheral vision. This view will allow you to monitor the whole situation without fixating on individual details.
Experts distinguish between two types of crowd behavior: outdoors and indoors. In many ways they agree, but there are nuances. In a confined space (at a concert or other mass event) when danger arises, people suddenly begin to all at the same time seek salvation, that is, they want to get out of this room. In the vast majority of cases, this happens chaotically. People who are far from exits become especially active. They begin to push with all their might on those in front, and as a result, most of the “front” find themselves pressed against the walls. A crush arises, as a result of which in the very literally a lot of people can (and do) find themselves crushed between stone wall and a wall of human bodies.
Experts advise memorizing the exit points and the paths to them, because those who know where the nearest exit is have a better chance of being saved. It is especially important to rush to him before the crowd begins to move. However, when the crowd has gained full strength, attempting to move through its thickness can have the most negative consequences. Experts believe that the most reasonable thing to do is to wait until the main flow subsides. In their opinion, rushing into narrow passages when the crowd has already gained strength is permissible only in the event of a fire, which also spreads very quickly, or when, as a result of extensive combustion of plastic materials and coatings in the hall, a “gas chamber” is formed.
You have to watch out for walls and narrow doorways. To do this you need to try:
Getting into the “main current”, which, however, is also unsafe;
Go back a little, where it’s still more free;
Try to lie on top of the stream of people and, rolling or crawling on your bellies, make your way to a less crowded place. This is especially true when rescuing children: often this technique- the only hope. A child simply cannot survive in a maddened crowd of adults, if only because of his size. Therefore, if you have the strength, it is better to put the child on your shoulders and move on. Or two adults can, facing each other, create a kind of protective capsule for the child from their bodies and hands.
If it is impossible to wait, then rush into the crowd, but headlong, but at the same time, be sure to empty your pockets as much as possible (even better - completely), since almost any object under enormous pressure in the middle of the crowd can cause serious injury not only to yourself, but and any of the people around you.
It is necessary to take off long, too loose clothes, which are also equipped with metal parts, as well as anything that can put pressure on the neck, i.e. jacket lacing, tie, medallion on a cord, pectoral cross on a chain, any jewelry and costume jewelry. The arms should not be pressed to the body, they should be bent at the elbows, the fists pointing upward, then the arms can protect the chest. You can also clasp your palms in front of your chest.
A street crowd is generally considered not as dangerous as in a confined space. However, psychologists do not agree with this, believing that the street crowd more often acts as a carrier of aggressive moods and that in terms of the number of intentional victims, the street crowd exceeds the crowd in a confined space.
In general, the rules of conduct during mass street gatherings are almost no different from those given above, but still have their own characteristics. The first rule is: Do not join the crowd, no matter how much you want to see the events taking place. If you find yourself in a crowd, let it carry you, but try to get out of it. When a crowd approaches, it is necessary to retreat to side streets and alleys, also using passage yards. Some survival manuals also recommend that, if it is impossible to escape to neighboring streets, use entrances through which you can climb to the roofs of houses as shelter. But the entrances may be closed (which happens most often lately). Then the same manuals recommend breaking the windows of apartments located on the first floors and entering the entrances through them.
If you find yourself in a moving crowd, you must stay away from any walls or ledges. All kinds of metal gratings are especially dangerous in these cases. If the crush has become threatening, immediately, without hesitation, free yourself from any burden, especially from your shoulder bag and scarf. Clothing should be comfortable, tightly fitting, preferably a sports type (the same applies to shoes, which should be tightly laced). On the street, you should stay at the edge of the crowd, and not rush into the thick of things.
While knowing the location of the nearest emergency exits can be useful in an enclosed area, knowing the topography of the area can be just as useful in an open area. There is no need to try to resist the spontaneous movement of the crowd, or cling to walls or lampposts.
You can't stop and try to lift anything. Also, any injury received should not cause a stop. If you fall, try to get back to your feet as quickly as possible. At the same time, do not lean on your hands (they will be crushed or broken). Try to stand on your soles or toes for at least a moment. You need to get up in the direction of the crowd. If you can’t get up, curl up in a ball, protect your head with your forearms, and cover the back of your head with your palms.
If there are still people in the crowd who have not lost their heads and are able to protect children and women, then it is quite possible to organize joint actions and sooner or later get out of the dense crowd. To do this, line up in a wedge, inside which you place children and women, and then, pushing apart the scattered people around you, drift to the side.
You can drift in a crowd like a ship on a river. Assess the direction in advance and move purposefully along it.
The appearance of a crowd is possible in crowded places. As a rule, this happens at holidays, concerts, festivities, and near stadiums after sports matches.
As long as thousands of people follow the established order of behavior or move evenly along designated routes, the situation is relatively safe. But if any incident or obstacle occurs along the way, the crowd turns into a source of increased danger to human health and life. It is very difficult to stop agitated people or control their actions. Sometimes this is almost impossible.
According to psychologists, a crowd is one of the most dangerous phenomena of city life. What is typical is that it does not take into account the interests of individual people, including the safety of their lives.
A large crowd of people is depersonalizing. The person behaves like everyone else. And it is difficult to resist the influence of the crowd. The paradox is that normal law-abiding people in a crowd can behave aggressively and destructively, without any control over their actions and actions. After all, the crowd gives rise to a feeling of impunity in a person. And this is fraught with the fact that his far from best, but hidden vices spill out, presenting a danger to others.
To avoid possible troubles, everyone needs to know the basic rules of behavior in crowded places.
Finding yourself at the venue of a mass cultural and entertainment event or sporting event, do not try to get into the densest crowd of people in a limited space. Remember, no spectacle can compensate for possible inconvenience, injury, or pressure in the crowd.
If you have to deal with crowded passages at the venue of a mass spectacle, violation of the rules fire safety And public order, the correct action is to leave the event.
Study in advance possible evacuation routes when visiting a place of expected crowding. It's in your best interest. At the same time, do not ignore fences, stairs, courtyards, windows, emergency exits and routes.
What to do if you find yourself in a moving crowd while leaving a concert or stadium?
First of all, it is necessary to adhere to the general speed of the traffic flow, do not push or push on those in front. Pushes from behind and from the side must be restrained with your elbows bent and your arms pressed to your body. Ask the most restless neighbors to keep order or let them go ahead.
What to do if there is a strong crush?
Do not grab protruding objects, try to get around them, stay away from glass display cases, mesh fences, turnstiles, and the stage. Press the umbrella and bag tightly to your body. It is better to move a long scarf from the neck to the lower back, turning this source of danger of suffocation into a means of protection. When moving in a crowd, never bend over for anything, pick up fallen things, money, or even tie an untied shoelace. The main task is to stay on your feet at any cost. Warning: Falling inside a moving crowd is life-threatening. But if this does happen, remember these important recommendations: when you fall, do not think about your clothes or bag, bend your arms and legs, protect your head with your hands, and protect your stomach by bending and pulling your legs towards your body. Then quickly try to place your hands and one foot on the ground and straighten up sharply in the direction of the people. If you don't succeed right away, don't despair and try again.
In order for a large number of ordinary people to turn into a crowd with all the ensuing consequences, panic or general spontaneous aggression must arise.
However, these two circumstances are often closely interrelated.
At the same time, thousands, hundreds or even dozens of people (it’s not a matter of quantity) suddenly lose their individuality and turn into one multi-headed beast that is capable of sweeping away and destroying everything in its path.
In order for the mass of people to become “explosive,” a kind of psychological detonator is needed, which can be general hysteria, provoked by mass protest or, on the contrary, a demonstration of loyal feelings; fear caused by fire or other disaster; an unprofessionally conducted rock concert or an overly emotional football match...
The list of reasons that can turn a crowd of people into a crowd, unfortunately, goes on and on.
Too often, people who succumbed to mass psychosis were later unable to understand why this happened. The explanation here should be sought at the level of primitive instincts. It was they who, in time immemorial, helped people survive together when seemingly much stronger creatures adapted to harsh conditions disappeared without a trace.
But today, like any atavism, the herd instinct poses an undoubted danger to the human collective. The only thing that's really man of sense can oppose such an instinct, this is reason. Try, if you find yourself in an aggressive crowd, not to succumb to the universal feeling, this peculiar “negative charm”.
But remember: the crowd does not accept “apostates” and is capable of dealing with anyone who disagrees with the general psychosis (for the mere fact of demonstrated disagreement) in the most cruel way.
It's not so easy to take and maintain your individuality when the sea of people carries you nowhere. However, there is no choice: if you do not preserve your individuality, you can lose not only your human appearance, but also life itself. After all, the crowd is merciless not only towards those who disagree, but also towards its ordinary members.
2. Crowd behavior and safe behavior in it
The behavior of the crowd reveals both ideological influences, with the help of which certain actions are prepared, and changes in mental states, occurring under the influence of any specific events or information about them. In the actions of the crowd, there is a junction and practical implementation of influences, both ideological and socio-psychological, and their interpenetration into the real behavior of people.
Joint feelings, will, and moods turn out to be emotionally and ideologically colored and greatly strengthened.
The climate of mass hysteria serves as the background against which the most tragic actions often unfold.
As already mentioned, one type of crowd behavior is panic. Panic is emotional condition, which arises as a consequence of either a lack of information about some frightening or incomprehensible situation, or its excessive excess and manifests itself in impulsive actions.
Factors that can cause panic are varied. Their nature can be physiological, psychological and socio-psychological. There are known cases of panic in Everyday life as a consequence of disasters and natural disasters. When people panic, they are driven by unaccountable fear. They lose self-control, solidarity, rush about, and do not see a way out of the situation.
Factors that have a particularly strong influence on crowd behavior are the following.
Superstition is a firmly established false opinion that arises under the influence of fear experienced by a person. However, there may be a superstitious fear, the reasons for which are not realized. Many superstitions involve believing in something. Most people are susceptible to them different people, regardless of the level of education and culture. For the most part, superstition is based on fear and it intensifies many times over in a crowd.
Illusion is a type of false knowledge entrenched in public opinion. It may be the result of deception of the sense organ. In this same context we're talking about about illusions related to the perception of social reality. Social illusion is a kind of ersatz resemblance to reality, created in a person’s imagination in place of genuine knowledge, which for some reason he does not accept. Ultimately, the basis of illusion is ignorance, which can produce the most unexpected and undesirable effects when manifested in a crowd.
Prejudice is false knowledge that has turned into belief, or more precisely, into prejudice. Prejudice is active, aggressive, assertive, and desperately resists genuine knowledge. This resistance is so blind that the crowd will not accept any argument contrary to prejudice.
The psychological nature of prejudices lies in the fact that a person’s memory captures not just an opinion (knowledge), it also preserves the feeling, emotion, and attitude that accompanies this knowledge. As a result, memory is very selective. Facts and events that contradict a certain opinion are not always analyzed at the level of consciousness. And, of course, they are discarded under the influence of emotions that usually overwhelm the crowd.
In cases where common stereotypes public opinion oversaturated with emotions, a mass psychosis may occur, during which people are capable of committing the most reckless acts and cease to be aware of all the consequences of their actions.
The factors that determine the nature of the opinions and beliefs of the crowd are of two kinds: immediate factors and remote factors. The immediate factors influencing the crowd act on the ground already prepared by distant factors - without this they would not have caused such devastating results that often strike a raging crowd. The factors that can impress the crowd itself always appeal to its feelings and not to reason.
A number of researchers believe that the crowd is a special biological organism. It operates according to its own laws and does not always take into account the interests of individual components, including their safety.
Very often the crowd becomes more dangerous natural disaster or the accidents that created it. However, she does not look for alternative solutions and does not see the consequences of her decision, sometimes the main ones, as in a typical case of fires: jumping from a doomedly high height.
A crowd can be stopped by categorical commands, an ardent conviction that there is no danger, and even the threat of shooting alarmists, as well as a strong emotional brake or a miracle. It is among miracles that one should include cases when a strong-willed person, enjoying the trust of those gathered, managed to prevent dramatic development events.
The leader immediately needs to find assistants who must “cut through the crowd,” sometimes literally - holding hands and chanting.
Main psychological picture the crowd looks like this:
· Decreased intellectual level and increased emotional level.
· A sharp increase in suggestibility and a decrease in the ability for individual thinking.
· The crowd requires a leader or an object of hatred. She will gladly obey or destroy. The crowd is capable of both terrible cruelty and self-sacrifice, including towards the leader himself.
· The crowd quickly becomes exhausted after achieving something. People divided into groups quickly come to their senses and change their behavior and assessment of what is happening.
· In the life of a street (especially political-social) crowd, such elements as the first stone in a shop window and first blood are very important. These steps can take the crowd to a fundamentally different level of danger, where collective irresponsibility turns every member of the crowd into a criminal. You need to leave such a crowd immediately.
How to survive in a crowd? The best rule- go far around it!!! If this is not possible, do not go against the crowd under any circumstances. If you get carried away by the crowd, try to avoid both the center and the edge. Avoid everything stationary on the way, otherwise you may simply be crushed and smeared. Do not cling to anything with your hands, they may break. If possible, buckle up. High heels can cost you your life, just like an untied shoelace. Throw away your bag, umbrella, etc.
If something falls (anything), do not try to pick it up - life is more valuable. In a dense crowd correct behavior the likelihood of falling is not as great as the likelihood of being squeezed. Therefore, protect the diaphragm with your hands clasped, folded over your chest. Pushes from behind should be taken on the elbows, the diaphragm should be protected by tension of the arms.
The main task in the crowd is not to fall. But if you do fall, then you need to protect your head with your hands and get up immediately. This is very difficult, but it can be done if you use this technique: quickly pull your legs towards you, group yourself and try to stand up with a jerk. It is unlikely that you will be able to rise from your knees in a dense crowd - you will be constantly knocked down. Therefore, you need to rest one foot (full sole) on the ground and sharply straighten up, using the movement of the crowd. But, nevertheless, it is very difficult to get up; preliminary protective measures are always more effective.
This universal rule, by the way, fully applies to the beginning of the “crowd” situation itself. At a concert or stadium, figure out in advance how you will exit (not necessarily the same way you entered). Try not to be near the stage, dressing room, etc. - in the “center of events.” Avoid walls (especially glass), partitions, and mesh. The tragedy at the stadium in Sheffield (England) showed that most of the dead were crushed by the crowd on the barrier walls.
If panic began due to a terrorist attack, do not rush to aggravate the chaos with your movement: do not deprive yourself of the opportunity to assess the situation and accept correct solution.
To do this, use auto-training and express relaxation techniques. Here simple techniques, from which you need to choose the ones that are closest to you.
· Even breathing helps to maintain even behavior. Take a few breaths in and out.
· Look at something blue or imagine a rich blue background. Think about this for a second.
· To bring down the beginning emotional confusion, you can address yourself by name (preferably out loud), for example: “Kolya, are you here?” And confidently answer yourself: “Yes, I’m here!!!”
· Imagine yourself as a television camera, looking at everything a little from the side and from above. Assess your situation as an outsider: what would you do if you were this person?
· Change the sense of scale. Look at the eternal clouds. Smile forcefully, knock down fear with an unexpected thought or memory.
If the crowd is dense but motionless, you can try to get out of it using psychosocial techniques, for example, pretending to be sick, drunk, crazy, pretending to be sick, and so on. In short, you need to force yourself to maintain composure, be informed and improvise.
Let's move on to specific examples . Suppose you are among many other people at a concert or other public event, albeit in a fairly large, but still enclosed room. And suddenly someone’s heart-rending scream was heard: “Fire!!!” The whole point here is a sudden change in everyone’s (including yours) mood. After all, you came here along with everyone else to enjoy the concert of your favorite artist or to watch a movie about which you heard favorable reviews. And suddenly - “Fire!!!” That is, a positive mood changes diametrically to a negative one. There is extreme stress. And so people, gathered in a closed room, suddenly all simultaneously begin to seek salvation, that is, they want to get out of this room. Of course, everything is happening chaotically, there can be no talk of any organization. This, unfortunately, happens in the vast majority of cases. People who are far from exits become especially active. They begin to push with all their might on those in front, and as a result, most of the “front” find themselves pressed against the walls. A stampede ensues, as a result of which, in a very real sense, many people can find themselves (and find themselves!) crushed between a stone wall and a wall of human bodies. Of course, those who have not lost their heads and know where the nearest exit is have a greater chance of being saved. It is especially important to rush to him before the crowd begins to move. However, when the crowd has gained full strength, attempting to move through its thickness can have the most negative consequences. By the way, when going to such a mass event, even before it starts, don’t be lazy and pay attention to where the dimly lit “Emergency Exit” sign is located. Just do it, just in case. After all, another opportunity may no longer present itself. Let's say you didn't manage to be in the first ranks of those fleeing. Then, in some cases, it makes sense to wait until the main flow of fugitives subsides. True, this requires considerable restraint and composure, as well as the ability to realistically assess the situation. After all, often a danger that you do not see with your own eyes may seem more formidable than the real danger. And this, by the way, also explains the mechanism of mass panic in the crowd. In general, experts believe that rushing into narrow passages when the crowd has already gained strength is permissible only in the event of a fire, which also spreads very quickly, or when, as a result of extensive combustion of plastic materials and coatings, a “gas chamber” is formed in the hall. But when rushing into the crowd, be sure to empty your pockets as much as possible (even better - completely!)! After all, almost any object under enormous pressure in the middle of a crowd can cause serious injury to both yourself and any of the people around you. Be sure to get rid of pencils and pens, wallet, calculator or notebook... In general, from everything that has at least some kind of rigidity. For paper money You can make an exception (just make sure that they are not rolled up into a tube), but get rid of the coins completely. Throw away greed: life is more valuable than any material value! Also, part with long, overly loose clothing, which is also equipped with metal parts, without regret. Anything that can put pressure on the neck, i.e. jacket lacing, tie, medallion on a cord, pectoral cross on a chain, take it off as soon as possible. This is the case when an amulet designed to bring good luck can cause death. And in general, throw any jewelry and costume jewelry, no matter how expensive they are to you, on the floor as soon as possible. Of course, glasses in such a situation should also be absent from the face. Never allow your shoe laces to come undone. While there is still time, tie them in a dead knot! An untied shoelace risks falling in the crowd, and no one has ever managed to rise in such a situation. In any case, your arms should not be pressed to your body. Let them be bent at the elbows, fists pointing up, then the arms can protect the chest. You can also clasp your palms in front of your chest. After all, the most dangerous thing in a crowd is that, as a result of compression from all sides, you will lose the ability to breathe. Try to take precautions in advance before the crowd gets too dense. And this will inevitably happen, since when a large mass of people exits through narrow doors, a “funnel effect” inevitably arises. In general, you should avoid places of narrowing, and therefore the greatest pressure, dead ends and protrusions. Being in the middle of a crowd is definitely dangerous. But it is even more dangerous to be near the wall. Indeed, in this case, a person can be seriously injured not only by an incompletely hammered nail, but even by an electrical outlet that is quite harmless under other circumstances. Therefore, beware of walls and narrow doorways. To do this, you can try: - to get into the “main stream”, which, however, is also unsafe; - go back a little, where it’s still more free; - as paradoxical as it sounds, try to lie on top of a stream of people. Here, of course, difficulties may arise, but it is better to experience the pokes of your comrades in misfortune on your ribs than to be trampled under their own feet or to find yourself firmly grounded to the wall by some ledge. You just have to walk over your heads (yes, that’s right - over your heads!) by rolling or crawling on your bellies. We encourage using this last technique in all cases where children are involved! After all, a child simply cannot survive in a maddened crowd of adults, and none of the adults accompanying him alone can protect him! Two adults can still try, facing each other, to create from their bodies and hands a kind of “protective capsule” for the child. If the adult has sufficient physical abilities, it can also be advised to put the child on the shoulders and in this position move with the crowd. In general, when going to any public event, do not forget from the very beginning that it is a source of increased danger. For example, the organizers of most rock concerts have been warning about this lately right on the entrance tickets.
Conclusion
As statistics show greatest number casualties in the event of riots and terrorist acts are observed in crowded places. People, being in a crowd, when extreme situation They endanger their health, and in extreme situations, their lives. Therefore, it is very important to know the following basic rules safe behavior in crowd:
Be in the safest place of the crowd: away from the stands, garbage containers, boxes, packages, bags, from the center of the crowd, from glass display cases and metal fences;
If unrest or panic occurs, take off your tie, scarf, free your hands, bend them at the elbows, press them to your body, covering your vital organs, fasten all buttons and zippers, do not grab trees, poles, fences;
The main thing is to stay on your feet; if you fall, you should curl up on your side, protecting your head, sharply pull your legs under you, and rise in the direction of the movement of the crowd;
Do not attract attention to yourself by expressing political, religious and other sympathies or attitudes towards what is happening;
Do not approach groups of people behaving aggressively;
Do not react to any conflicts occurring nearby.
Try to leave the crowd.
Bibliography
1. American sociological thought. - M., 1994.
2. Lebon G. Psychology of peoples and masses. - St. Petersburg, 1996.
3. Mitrokhin S. Treatise on the Crowd // XX Century and the World. - 1990. No. 11.
4. Moscovici S. Century of Crowds. - M., 1996.
5. Criminal crowd. - M., 1998.
6. Psychology of domination and submission: Reader. - Minsk, 1998.
7. Psychology of the masses: Reader. - Samara, 1998.
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10. Freud 3. “I” and “It”. - Tbilisi, 1991.
Rules for behavior in indoor crowds.
In a confined space (at a concert or other public event), when danger arises, people suddenly begin to simultaneously seek salvation, i.e., they want to get out of this room. In the vast majority of cases, this happens chaotically. People who are far from exits become especially active. They begin to push with all their might on those in front, and as a result, most of the “front” find themselves pressed against the walls. A stampede ensues, as a result of which, in a very real sense, many people can find themselves (and find themselves) crushed between a stone wall and a wall of human bodies.
Once in a room crowded with people, determine in advance which places are the most dangerous in the event of an extreme situation (passages between sectors in the stadium, glass doors and partitions in concert halls etc.), pay attention to emergency exits. Mentally make your way to them, because those who know where the nearest exit is are more likely to escape. It is especially important to rush to the exit before the crowd begins to move. However, when the crowd has gained full strength, attempting to move through its thickness can have the most negative consequences. Experts believe that the most reasonable thing to do is to wait until the main flow subsides. In their opinion, rushing into narrow passages when the crowd has already gained strength is permissible only in the event of a fire, which also spreads very quickly, or when, as a result of extensive combustion of plastic materials and coatings in the hall, a “gas chamber” is formed.
You have to watch out for walls and narrow doorways. To do this you need to try:
. getting into the “main stream”, which, however, is also unsafe;
. go back a little, where it’s still more free;
. try to lie on top of the stream of people and, rolling or crawling on your bellies, make your way to a less crowded place. This is especially true when saving children: often this technique is the only hope. A child simply cannot survive in a maddened crowd of adults, if only because of his size. Therefore, if you have the strength, it is better to put the child on your shoulders and move on. Or two adults can, facing each other, create a kind of protective capsule for the child from their bodies and hands.
. If it is impossible to wait, then rush into the crowd, but headlong, but at the same time, be sure to empty your pockets as much as possible (even better - completely), since almost any object under enormous pressure in the middle of the crowd can cause serious injury not only to yourself, but and any of the people around you.
. It is necessary to take off long, too loose clothes, which are also equipped with metal parts, as well as anything that can put pressure on the neck, i.e. jacket lacing, tie, medallion on a cord, pectoral cross on a chain, any jewelry and costume jewelry. The arms should not be pressed to the body, they should be bent at the elbows, the fists pointing upward, then the arms can protect the chest. You can also clasp your palms in front of your chest.
. If you drop something, never bend down to pick it up.
. If you fall, try to get back to your feet as quickly as possible. At the same time, do not lean on your hands (they will be crushed or broken). Try to stand on your soles or toes for at least a moment. Having found support, “surface”, sharply pushing off the ground with your feet.
. If you can’t get up, curl up in a ball, protect your head with your forearms, and cover the back of your head with your palms.
. It is easiest to hide from the crowd in the corners of the hall or near the walls, but it is more difficult to get from there to the exit.
. If panic occurs, try to maintain calm and the ability to soberly assess the situation.
Rules for safe behavior in crowds in case of panic
The appearance of a crowd is possible in crowded places. As a rule, this happens at holidays, concerts, festivities, and near stadiums after sports matches.
As long as thousands of people follow the established order of behavior or move evenly along designated routes, the situation is relatively safe. But if any incident or obstacle occurs along the way, the crowd turns into a source of increased danger to human health and life. It is very difficult to stop agitated people or control their actions. Sometimes this is almost impossible.
According to psychologists, a crowd is one of the most dangerous phenomena of city life. What is typical is that it does not take into account the interests of individual people, including the safety of their lives.
A large crowd of people is depersonalizing. The person behaves like everyone else. And it is difficult to resist the influence of the crowd. The paradox is that normal law-abiding people in a crowd can behave aggressively and destructively, without any control over their actions and actions. After all, the crowd gives rise to a feeling of impunity in a person. And this is fraught with the fact that his far from best, but hidden vices spill out, presenting a danger to others.
To avoid possible troubles, everyone needs to know the basic rules of behavior in crowded places.
When you find yourself at the venue of a mass cultural, entertainment or sporting event, do not try to get into the densest crowd of people in a limited space. Remember, no spectacle can compensate for possible inconvenience, injury, or pressure in the crowd.
If you have to deal with crowded passages at the venue of a mass spectacle, violation of fire safety rules and public order, the correct action is to leave the event.
Study in advance possible evacuation routes when visiting a place of expected crowding. It's in your best interest. At the same time, do not ignore fences, stairs, courtyards, windows, emergency exits and routes.
What to do if you find yourself in a moving crowd while leaving a concert or stadium?
First of all, it is necessary to adhere to the general speed of the traffic flow, do not push or push on those in front. Pushes from behind and from the side must be restrained with your elbows bent and your arms pressed to your body. Ask the most restless neighbors to keep order or let them go ahead.
What to do if there is a strong crush?
Do not grab protruding objects, try to get around them, stay away from glass display cases, mesh fences, turnstiles, and the stage. Press the umbrella and bag tightly to your body. It is better to move a long scarf from the neck to the lower back, turning this source of danger of suffocation into a means of protection. When moving in a crowd, never bend over for anything, pick up fallen things, money, or even tie an untied shoelace. The main task is to stay on your feet at any cost. Warning: Falling inside a moving crowd is life-threatening. But if this does happen, remember these important recommendations: when you fall, do not think about your clothes or bag, bend your arms and legs, protect your head with your hands, and protect your stomach by bending and pulling your legs towards your body. Then quickly try to place your hands and one foot on the ground and straighten up sharply in the direction of the people. If you don't succeed right away, don't despair and try again.
