I saw news early in the morning that a large-scale stampede occurred in Itaewondong, the capital of South Korea, Seoul, and more than 150 people were killed, most of them were young people. I also saw some analysis. Some people mentioned the Halloween ghost festival, some mentioned the narrow alley and easy to trample slopes, some mentioned the traditional European and American culture formed by the proximity of US military bases, and even mentioned the personality traits and Korean wave culture of Korean people - because there were rumors that someone saw a star before the accident, and then the direction of the crowd was in chaos, etc.
This time the loss is heavy, and it is necessary to discuss it from all aspects to learn from the lessons. I think domestic friends will also think about it. For example, in terms of number control and on-site security, our country has more governance experience, and such activities are often willing to invest huge efforts. Therefore, although my country has many large-scale activities, its experience and ability in the management of intensive crowd activities may be stronger.
But I want to talk about two cases from the perspective of on-site emergency and crowd flow guidance to help everyone think about how to control the situation in a timely manner in scenarios that may cause congestion and chaos.
The first is the negative case . One year we organized a large-scale hiking activity, with about 1,000 people, about 20 teams, double rows, facing the rostrum, forming a rectangular array. This is a typical gathering position. And 30 meters behind the rectangle, there is a gift point for a certain drink. The ideal situation is that 20 teams raise flags and set off in turn, pass by one after another, receive the merchant’s drinks in turn, and then take the bus on the roadside behind. This way the sponsor will get the best shooting and experience results.
But when you are about to set off, something bad happened. The starting commander we invited should have set out according to the list and team orders one by one, but he did not do so, but simplified it into two words: "setting out" . (My mind was buzzing at that time)
Then, the matrix of 1,000 people turned around according to the instructions of and queuing slowly at the beginning, and then saw a stall giving away drinks 30 meters away. What would happen? Let's make up for it!
The second is a positive case. is also a large-scale hiking activity for thousands of people, and is in an industrialized city. At this time, we wisely placed the given drinks at 500 meters after the starting point of the hiking route. We imagine that 500 meters can already make a team of 1,000 people form an orderly line array , and can also pass the given drinks one by one and receive them one by one. But an accident happened again. The hiking team is still too dense, and most of them are the uncles and aunts. (this is the focus) . The first one or two hundred people can pass and collect them in sequence. Then signs of congestion and rushing are gradually beginning to appear. Subsequent hikers are still coming in a steady stream...
At this time, we immediately released a command "The last 100 people will receive two cans for each person". As soon as the speech ended, the uncles and aunts who were rushing to the congested scene obviously slowed down. Order was quickly restored. Of course, we also fulfilled our promise of "two cans per person for the last 100 people". I often share these two cases of
in my university's "Outdoor Leader and Special Tourism" course to illustrate the classification and role of instructions in group activities, including guided instructions, command instructions, precision instructions and interest-driven instructions .
Finally, I will quote the case of the stampede accident on the Bund in Shanghai in 2014. There were more than 30 deaths that time, which was also a slope (bridge). At that time, several young people stood at a high place, shouted "retreat" repeatedly in unison, and at the same time made a large backward gesture with their bodies. I believe that many people saw this gesture or heard instructions at that time, and then reduced the speed and strength of the group's crowding forward, and slowed down the pressure on the congestion point.In an emergency, these young people in Shanghai who correctly issued instructions, are wise and meritorious people!
Here, I also express my condolences to those who were injured in this accident in the South Korean capital!
(Author’s background: Founder of the outdoor hiking website, first captain of Xinjiang Shanyou Rescue Team)
In an emergency, these young people in Shanghai who correctly issued instructions, are wise and meritorious people!Here, I also express my condolences to those who were injured in this accident in the South Korean capital!
(Author’s background: Founder of the outdoor hiking website, first captain of Xinjiang Shanyou Rescue Team)
