Last night, another incident of a ‘crowd crush’ occurred, at the O2 in Brixton. With crowd incidents being too prevalent in the news, what can be done?

Security experts, Get Licensed, have commented on the situation and provided tips on how you, as a concert or event attendee can keep safe and protect others:

Shahzad Ali, CEO of Get Licensed, commented:

“Gigs and concerts can be a daunting prospect for many, especially with large crowds and multiple incidents being reported over the last year. One of the most prominent crowd safety incidents was the recent Halloween incident in Seoul. Unfortunately, these incidents can result in extreme injury and in the worst-case scenario, death. Perhaps the saddest thing is that it can be prevented, and organisers and attendees can do their part to make sure everyone is safe and has a good time overall.

“Making sure your security staff are aware of the potential risks, ensuring you have the most qualified guards and having a correct strategy in place can stop these awful events.

“Last night’s Brixton event saw 8 people taken to hospital and 4 still remain in critical condition. This was unfortunately down to forced entry at the main entrance. We would urge event attendees to keep the safety of others in mind at all times, including the security officers working at the time. Everyone is there to have an enjoyable time and it’s extremely upsetting when this type of incident occurs. We all need to be mindful of staff and other attendees and keep vigilant”

Shahzad has also provided 5 tips for you to keep safe and calm in these situations:

Stay calm – Try to keep your feet firmly on the ground and move in the direction of the crowd. Don’t try to move against the flow or push your way through. If the crowd starts to move, keep your feet moving and try to move at the same pace as the rest of the crowd.

Try to keep clear of solid objects – The only time you should resist going with the flow is if you’re close to walls, railings, barriers, fences and other solid barriers that can’t be climbed over. These are all the kinds of areas where pressure builds the most and are the most dangerous in these situations.

Keep scanning the room – Work out where the crowd thins out and, if you can, try to edge towards the edges of the crowd, where the number of people should be less dense. Also, make sure to be fully aware of your surroundings, there could be an escape route that others haven’t spotted, like a ledge you can climb.

Keep as much space around you as possible – This is particularly important around your head and face, as if you can’t get enough oxygen you could start to feel faint. Many of the deaths caused in these situations are due to a lack of oxygen. You can create space by folding your arms in front of your body, in a stance similar to a boxer. This also helps to protect your ribcage and lungs.

Try to keep your balance and remain upright – If you do lose your footing, get back to your feet as quickly as possible, or ask for help. If you’re not able to get back up, then the best thing to do is curl into a ball and protect your head and neck.