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Participating in a concert, festival or sporting event can remain a pleasant activity while preparing some safety cues. For the public, the goal is to know where to ask for help, how to get out and how to find your loved ones. The monitoring and intervention mechanisms are the responsibility of the organisers and the competent services.
Preparing for arrival and return
See the event information: access, authorized items, schedules, transport and special conditions. Check accessibility needs and rest options. A plan that is suitable for a mobile adult is not automatically suitable for a child, an elderly person or someone who uses a mobility aid.
Choose an identifiable meeting point outside the densest area and an alternative if access is closed. Agree on how to communicate if the network is saturated. Children need to know which staff to turn to if they are separated from the group.
Identify exits and help points
Upon arrival, look at the indicated exits, routes and locations of the staff. A near exit on a map may be inaccessible from your location; observe the actual signage. Do not block doors, stairs or passages with things.
Locate the emergency station or reception desk where these services exist. If an instruction is unclear, ask for an explanation before the place is very crowded. The organisers may specify the provisions relating to a particular need.
Observe the material conditions
A crowded exit, a fall, a person in distress or a crowd movement are facts that can be reported. Describe the location and what you see to the competent staff. Don’t try to solve a technical problem yourself or cross a barrier.
A person’s behavior does not always allow them to know their intentions. Nervousness, a disability, unusual dress or being alone do not constitute proof of threat. Avoid accusations and photographs released without context.
Reacting to a Direction or Difficulty
Listen to the announcements and follow the directions of the responsible staff. When leaving, use the authorized paths and avoid stopping to film or retrieve a secondary object. If you are accompanying a person, keep brief instructions and check that they can follow.
Do not go back against the current to find someone in an area that is emptying. Use the meeting point and ask for help from the organization. In the event of an immediate emergency, contact the emergency services by giving the name of the place, the useful entry and the nature of the situation.
If the density becomes uncomfortable while the movement remains possible, take distance to a less crowded space. Worry can justify leaving the business; there is no need to wait for certainty on all risks.
Provide discreet and authorized equipment
A charged phone, useful contacts and necessary personal effects are often enough to improve the organization. Check the rules of the place before bringing an external battery, water or special equipment. A bag that is too bulky can complicate the movement and be refused at the entrance.
An external battery can extend the use of the phone for a day. Choose a compatible model and cable, then store them in a way that avoids damage or exposure to heat.
Personal medical needs must be anticipated according to the advice of the professionals and the modalities of the event. An on-site rescue team does not replace the usual treatments or any special preparation needed for a person.
Taking stock without dramatizing
After the event, check what made the activity easier: a clear appointment, a simpler start or useful accessibility information. Adjust the markings for the next exit. It’s not about constantly monitoring others, but knowing a few options and enjoying the activity with less uncertainty.
Your next action: before your next outing, choose an appointment, check the return and find two possibilities of assistance on arrival.
References and extensions
- SGDSN: recommendations for securing assembly sites.
- PrépaCivile: know your neighborhood and its movements.
- Also consult the instructions published by the organizer of the event concerned.