How to stay unthreatening in the Modern Year’s Eve crowd

On December 31, crowds of people gather to start the recent year.

But when massive crowds gather for an event, certain risks – such as overcrowding or alcohol-related violence – may enhance.

Here are some tips on how to stay unthreatening in crowded public places to keep your end-of-year celebration ecstatic.

Wave of people in the city center

Modern Year’s Eve celebrations are usually ticketless and admission is free. This can make it arduous to estimate how many people will show up.

However, public events featuring fireworks at midnight often attract hundreds of thousands of people in enormous city centers.

Revelers are scattered throughout open public spaces rather than organized venues, and there are usually no formal security checks or restricted access.

The risk of overcrowding often peaks shortly after midnight. At night, crowds usually enhance gradually over several hours. Then, after the fireworks show, everyone rushes out nearby transport hubs get home.

This surge in traffic – as people crowd into stations and circumscribed capacity areas – increases the risk of: crushing the crowd.

How does crowd infatuation happen?

Crowd crushing is not necessarily the result of “panic”, although it is: common misconception this is what causes death and injury in crowds.

In fact, a crowd crush or tidal waveis a problem of extreme density.

In crowds you will begin to feel pushed forward, often against your will, and this pushes others forward in a risky chain reaction.

In such situations, you lose the ability to move independently. The crowd begins to behave more like a fluid.

This turbulence only happens in very dense crowds — usually when there are more than seven or eight people per square meter.

The danger increases if the pressure on a person’s chest and lungs from overfilling becomes too intense. This may lead to pressure asphyxia — when a person I can’t breathe due to enormous pressure on the chest.

Progressive crowd collapse may also occur. If someone falls, it can cause a domino effect.

What can I do?

There are a few things you can do to reduce your risk of becoming part of a crowd.

1. Plan your trip in advance: avoid areas where bottlenecks may occur. Local authorities often plan how to disperse crowds and avoid congestion, for example through expansion several places to celebrate. Know where you’re going in advance.

2. Delay your departure: If possible, wait a while after the fireworks display ends to avoid rushing onto public transport.

3. Monitor overflow: look for early signs of attraction, such as slowing or stopping movement. Try to avoid crowded places and move towards less crowded places (for example, sideways). Listen for distress signals from people around you or in crowds. And if you can, pass the information along, for example by saying “stop moving” or “ponderous down,” which can reduce the pressure.

People who are shorter, have mobility problems or are afraid of crowds (agoraphobia) may be at greater risk – so be especially careful if this applies to you or anyone you are with.

What about other threats?

Robust heat

It’s Modern Year’s Eve in Australia hits often with extreme heat. The good news is that weather alerts are usually issued well in advance, so you can be prepared. Check the forecast, dress appropriately and take water with you.

If you are in a risk group (including the elderly, very teenage children and people with chronic diseases), be prepared to decide to cancel your trip if inclement weather is predicted.

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Read more: 4 ways to support someone with dementia during extreme heat

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Fireworks

Fireworks are an integral part of Modern Year’s Eve. There may be security risks, but these are due to private fireworks to which they are susceptible misfiring and cause accidents.

Public fireworks displays are extremely unthreatening today compared to private fireworks. Public displays are licensed by the experts who follow them strict regulations.

Alcohol

For many people, cheeky champagne is a must on December 31st.

Unfortunately, when excessive drinking is involved, the risks enhance – including aggressive behavior in public or incidents related to driving under the influence of alcohol.

AND Victorian Health Promotion Foundation study found that ambulance calls and emergency room visits enhance sixfold on Modern Year’s Eve.

Hospital admissions related to alcohol poisoning enhance fivefold.

Emergency room visits for assault more than tripled during this time.

But you can drink, party and travel responsibly. Keep your pace and always have a unthreatening route home. Designate a driver, utilize public transportation, call a rideshare or a taxi.

Terrorism

For the first time in a decade, Australia will celebrate Modern Year’s Eve with a “probable” terrorism threat level. This means that the possibility of an attack – while not imminent – remains significant enough that it may they require vigilance.

If you notice any suspicious activity, report it immediately to your supervisor local designated helpline.

In an emergency situation, follow authorities’ instructions and be aware of your surroundings. Avoid filming events as they happen – put your own safety and that of others before documentation.

The likelihood of something going wrong is generally quite low. However, since millions of people take part in many events around the world, it is good to be aware of the risks involved.

Being prepared means you can enjoy the festivities more safely.