ALCOHOL, CROWD CONTROL & EMERGENCIES

ERISK

M.Aldana ‘17

• “Individuals often develop a new persona when they

are in a group or away from home.”

• One of these group behavior tendencies is the lowering

of inhibitions.

Alcohol and Events

• Most people accept the use of alcohol at special

events.

• At the same time, alcohol consumption can be a major

risk to the success of an event and to the lives of both

those attending the event and those whom the event’s

participants come in contact.

• Numerous literature in event risk management

contains various examples of alcohol consumption at

conventions and meetings.

• Alcohol is a form of drug.

Alcohol & Drugs

• Drugs

– Always illegal

– High probability of a jail sentence

– Socially unacceptable in most circles

– People believe that is usage produces unexpected outcomes

– Unacceptable to all religions

– Does not prove maturity

– Is a danger to people on the road

• Alcohol

– Not illegal at the right age

– Probability of jail sentence (reduced)

– Socially acceptable in most circles

– People believe that alcohol consumption in moderation will not produce

undesired outcomes

– Many religions do not reject use of alcohol if kept in moderation

– Sign of adulthood

– Is a danger to people on the road

Alcohol and Events

• When polled, Event Managers answered that the sale

and consumption of alcohol is the top risk factor.

• Second is the inexperience of event managers.

• It is imperative to have well-trained professional event

managers who understand the importance of

comprehensive risk management.

Events and Colleges &

Universities

• Difficult situations:

– Young people away from home often follow the

sociological characteristics of a traveler.

– Young people tend to experiment and desire to try new

experiences.

– Fraternity/sorority parties are often seen as failures if

alcohol is not consumed.

– Many of those attending the event may not be of a legal

age to drink.

Alcohol and Events

• Universities and colleges are not the only places where

alcohol consumption can get out of control.

• In almost any social situation where risk management

is needed, alcohol can become an issue.

• From national conventions, to festivals, from family

affairs to college spring break events, alcohol

consumption has challenged the event risk manager to

face the issue of inebriation and alcoholism.

• Ex. Mardi Gras (New Orleans)

Alcohol and Events

• According to Meg Manning: “Special events are always

a challenge. Alcohol introduces an element of risk. The

best way is to eliminate alcohol.”

• Psychosocial tendencies:

– People want to fight the world after drinking.

– Drinking and driving

– Alcohol lowers inhibition and good sense

Alcohol and Events

• The solution:

– Conduct the event at a location where there are people

trained to serve alcohol

– Understand and implement effective crowd control

– Make certain that carding is coordinated by the

organization’s personnel

– Make sure monitoring is in place so that underage people

are not involved

– Do not have an open bar

– Price alcoholic drinks expensively so that guests drink

less

– Make certain there are designated drivers at the event

– Maintain a list of who is and who is not 21 years of age

CROWD CONTROL

Crowd Control

• When people riot, they cause a great deal of

destruction to both property and life.

• They also create negative impressions of the event

destination, which become part of that area’s collective

memory.

– An event remains etched in a locale’s collective memory

long after the event had ended.

– When an event is not managed correctly, postevent

damage control can be more expensive than proper risk

planning and control.

– One negative event can influence other events that occur

in the same locale.

Crowd Control and

Events

• Parades, demonstrations, and sports events are not

the only crowd management challenges facing event

risk managers.

• Event risk managers are keenly aware that almost any

event can quickly change from leisurely fun to chaos

and even death.

• All event managers must understand how orderly

crowd can be transformed into an angry mob.

• These disorders often begin with large groups of

people who soon become a crowd and then turn into a

mob and riot.

Crowd Control Factors

• Festivals – drugs, alcohol, sudden noises, fighting,

gunfire

• Political – speeches, planned violence, drugs, gunfire

• Street events – alcohol, drugs, boredom, fighting,

sexual acts

• Sport events – alcohol, drugs, boredom, fighting,

sexual acts

• Student events/parties – alcohol, drugs, sexual

promiscuity, tolerance by authorities

Types of Crowds

• Heterogeneous Crowds

– The anonymous crowd, (e.g. street crowds)

– The planned crowd (assemblies and juries)

• Homogeneous Crowds

– Sects, such as political or religious

– Castes, such as military or working caste

– Classes, such as economic classes in socially fluid

societies

Types of Crowds

• Invisible crowds – crowd that forms to represent a

dead person and soon turns into a riot.

• Bating crowd –crowd that forms a specific goal, which

is clearly marked and easily obtainable. (ex. Lynching

mob)

• Fleeing crowd – the crowd that perceives a threat and

flees from it, often in panic. Risk managers should

avoid this type of crowd at all costs.

• Prohibition crowd – crowd that refuses to do what is

asked

• Reversal crowd – crowd that seeks to overturn the

political status quo.

• Feast crowd – crowd who only celebrates, no other

purpose than to have a good time.

Allocentric • Wants excitement, will tend to ignore security

personnel’s warnings

• Free with money

• Bores easily, will not complain to security until after an

incident has occurred

• Person will climb onto stage and seek crowds

• Troublemaker – wants to challenge

• single

Psychocentric • Wants fun without danger, may be overly cautious

• Is frugal with money, may worry about being

overcharged

• Tends to complain about everything from people

watching him or her to atmospheric conditions

• Person wants to enjoy show and avoid crowds

• Does not want to stir the pot or make trouble

• Family oriented

Situations most likely

to lose control

• Mainly young people

• Summer/good weather

• Alcohol

• Large amounts of bored people

• Inadequate security

• Darkness

Controlling crowds

• Understanding the sociology of a crowd and what turns

crowds into mobs and/or causes panic is essential for a

risk manager.

• It is important that each event manager develop his or

her own specific list of signs/signals that indicate that a

large gathering/assembly is transforming into an

unruly crowd/mob.

EMERGENCIES

Emergency medical response

(EMR)

• EMRs are busy throughout the year, but events,

especially large events, provide a tremendous amount

of extra stress on those trying to manage medical risks

and to care for the public.

• Events are occasions where participants lower their

inhibitions and often do not use common sense.

• A crowd can easily degenerate into a mob, alcoholic

beverages may be abused, nudity and willingness to

perform acts that are contrary to common sense are

possible, all of which increase the risk of medical injury.

EMRs and events

• Central to events are EMR teams. These teams are the first response to a medical emergency.

– EMRs must be prepared to handle the special event, secondary events, and everyday life

– Obtain extra personnel

– Make sure EMR team is present throughout the special event

– Be prepared to implement the triage/treatment and transportation.

– Have a coordinated ambulance plan ready and in operation

– Have some way to keep record of those who choose not to accept medical treatment

– Make certain that staff or volunteers at the event are fully briefed

– Provide safe areas sheltered from weather

– Design a method to secure unattended official vehicles

– Develop good communications system

Types of Team

Responses

• Unit-Team Response

– Is based on the idea that a single medical team will take

control of the injured person or patient from the moment

there is an initial call for help until his or her arrival at the

designated medical facility.

• Zone-Team Response

– Combines wartime military response methods with

civilian EMS methods.

– A central area is divided into zones, with teams within

zones being prepositioned to respond immediately.

– Each team is prepared to back-up the other team as

needed.

Assignment • Research First Aid Treatments for:

– Burns

– Scrapes, bruises, cuts

– Slips/falls

– Poisoning

– Fainting

– Other medical emergencies