Why public places need extra care
A public place is open to many people: a school gate, a market, a mall, a bus or railway station, a cinema, a stadium, a fair. Many people means less space, more noise and more chances for things to go wrong. Most days nothing happens. Safe habits cost nothing, so use them every day.
- Note two exits and where the fire exit sign is.
- Agree a meeting point with friends and family.
- Keep your phone charged and know the number 112 (the emergency number in India, Russia and the European Union).
- Keep valuables out of sight and bags closed.
Crowds
A crowd is dangerous when there are too many people for the space. In a crowd crush people are pressed together and cannot move or breathe well. Falling is the worst thing, because others fall on top.
- Move with the flow, not against it. Go sideways step by step towards the edge.
- Keep your arms up in front of your chest to protect breathing space.
- Stay on your feet. If you drop something, leave it.
- Avoid narrow gates, stairs and dead ends. Keep near walls but not pressed against them.
- Leave early if the place is already too packed.
A crowd that is calm moves slowly. A panic makes everyone push to the same exit, and the jam at the door is what hurts people, as you saw in step 2 of the 3D.
Fire in a public building
Smoke is more dangerous than flames, because it rises and chokes. When an alarm rings, take it seriously.
- Do not collect belongings. Walk fast but do not run.
- Use the stairs, never the lift.
- Go to the exit away from the fire. Keep low if there is smoke, with a cloth over your nose and mouth.
- Touch a closed door with the back of your hand first. If it is hot, do not open it.
- Gather at the meeting point outside. Call 112 and tell staff if someone is missing. Never go back in.
Suspicious objects and terrorist threats
A suspicious object is a bag, parcel or box that is alone, in a place where it does not belong, and nobody comes for it. It may be a lost bag, but nobody can be sure.
- Do not touch, move, open or photograph it from close. Do not use a phone or radio near it.
- Ask people nearby if it is theirs. If not, tell staff, security or the police at once.
- Move away, at least 100 m if you can, and keep behind a wall or a corner.
- Help others move away calmly. Do not crowd the exit.
If there is an attack or a gunfire alarm: run away if the way is clear, hide if it is not (lock or block a door, switch off sound, stay low), and call 112 when it is safe. Follow the police instructions. Never film or stay to watch.
Crime in crowded places
Crowds attract pickpockets and scammers. Keep your bag in front of you and zipped, phone in an inside pocket, and do not show cash. Do not go with strangers, and do not accept food or drink from them. If someone follows you, walk to a place with light and people (a shop, a guard) and ask for help. If someone grabs your bag, let it go. Your safety matters more than the bag. Then tell the police and block your cards and phone.
Emergency services and the police
The number 112 reaches police, fire and ambulance. Stay calm, say where you are (place, landmark), what is happening, how many people need help, and your name. Do not hang up until the operator says so.
Help the police, do not hinder them. Follow orders to move away, show an ID if asked, tell what you saw, and keep the area clear for fire engines and ambulances. Never spread unchecked rumours or photos, they cause panic. Making a false call is a punishable offence.
Try it: your exit plan
Next time you enter a mall or a station, stop for ten seconds. Find (1) two exits, (2) the fire exit sign, (3) a meeting point. Say them to your friend. Then, in the 3D, close one exit and see how long 60 people take. Predict first, then check.
Key formulas and definitions
- E-S-C: Exit, Stay calm, Call 112
- Crowd: move with the flow, sideways to the edge, arms up, stay on your feet
- Fire: no lift, stay low, away from the fire, meet outside
- Suspicious object: Do not touch, Move away, Tell the police (112)
Worked examples
1. You are in a mall and the fire alarm rings. List what you do.
Leave belongings, walk fast to the exit away from any fire or smoke, use stairs not the lift, keep low in smoke, gather at the outside meeting point, call 112 and report missing people. Do not go back in.
2. At a festival, the crowd starts pushing towards one gate. What should you do?
Do not go against the flow or towards the gate. Move sideways towards the edge, arms in front of the chest, stay on your feet, and look for another exit. If you can, leave early before it gets tighter.
3. You see a bag alone at a bus stop for ten minutes. What now?
Do not touch it. Ask people near you. If nobody owns it, tell security or police and call 112. Move away and keep others away from the bag.
4. You hear that gunfire has started in a market. What are the options?
Run if the way is clear and away from the sound. If not, hide: lock or block a door, silence the phone, stay low. Call 112 when safe and follow police orders.
5. In the 3D, 60 people leave through one exit. When a second is opened, why is it better?
The crowd splits into two streams, each with fewer people at the door. Less pushing means a smaller jam and a faster exit.
Common mistakes
- Using the lift in a fire. It can stop and trap you; use the stairs.
- Going back for a phone or bag. Things can be replaced; people cannot.
- Picking up or opening a lonely bag out of curiosity.
- Running against the crowd or standing at a gate. Move sideways with the flow.