Crowd Management, Evacuation and Disaster Preparedness
What the exam tests
Crowd management, evacuation and disaster preparedness-planning and controlling people under pressure.
Core rules and concepts
- Crowd risks: congestion, counter-flow, blocked exits, surge at gates, crush, stampede and lost children.
- Planning: capacity limits, entry and exit flow, barricades, signage, PA announcements, marshals, briefing and a first-aid post.
- Evacuation: nearest safe route, assembly point, headcount, sweep of toilets and rooms, assist disabled people, no re-entry until cleared.
- Disaster response: fire-evacuate, no lifts; earthquake-drop, cover, hold on; flood-move to high ground; bomb threat-do not use radios near a suspect device, evacuate and search.
- Communication: clear, calm, repeated instructions using whistles, hooters, PA and hand signals.
Worked example
A gate becomes overcrowded at a concert. Reasoning: stop further inflow, open an additional exit, make calm PA announcements, redirect the crowd in one direction, check for casualties, and inform police and event control. Do not push back or close all exits; that increases crush risk.
Traps that cost marks
- Blocking or locking exits for security.
- Using lifts during a fire evacuation.
- Forgetting the headcount or allowing re-entry before clearance.