Bababunmi Agbebi
In December 2024, tragic human stampedes occurred across Nigeria during charity events leaving at least 67 people dead, many of them children. At least 35 children were killed in southwestern Oyo state, 22 people died in southeastern Anambra state while 10 died in the capital, Abuja, where more than 1,000 people had gathered at a church to receive clothes and food.
With an inflation rate of 34.6%, the highest in 28 years, the need to curtail the rise of hunger through charity is almost inevitable which might lead to getting caught in a stampede. With a little preparation and some evasive tactics, you can avoid being one of the people who won’t make it out.
Be Prepared
LTV Blue roof in Ikeja is a major location for charity events and sharing of palliatives in Lagos. A security guard stationed there confirmed that people do not evaluate their surroundings. They come into the compound without checking for entrance, quick and alternate exits. The best way to survive a human stampede is to adequately evaluate your surroundings long before the stampede ever begins. If you’re attending a large event with lots of people, make sure you know where all the available exits are.
Arms Up
Contrary to popular assumption, getting trampled isn’t the only way people die in a stampede. As a stampede moves forward, people can get stuck standing up as the pressure of the crowd intensifies all around them. In time, this pressure can become so great that it crushes people, preventing them from being able to breathe. Alhaja Odumosu,73, recalled that she survived a near stampede in 2015 in Saudi Arabia by lifting her arms near her chest, explaining that she read online a long time ago that it allows to push out against the pressure and make space for breathing
Avoid Choke Points
Choke points are any space that restricts the flow of the stampede. Doorways, hallways, and bridges are all perfect examples. While those narrow spaces lead to exits, they also represent the most dangerous place to be in a stampede. If at all possible, avoid getting trapped near a choke point where the force of the stampede will inevitably increase exponentially as more and more people pack towards it.
If all these evasive tactics fail and you lose balance or fall to the ground, get back up on your feet as soon as possible or ask for help. If you’re not able to stand back up, curl your body into a ball and protect your head and neck area.
All in all it is important that Organizers of events should have a robust emergency plan for ensuring safety.
