ERISK lesson 4

1. ALCOHOL,
CROWD
CONTROL &
EMERGENCIES
ERISK
M.Aldana ‘17

2. • “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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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)

8. 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

9. 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

10. CROWD
CONTROL

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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

18. Situations
most likely
to lose
control
• Mainly young people
• Summer/good weather
• Alcohol
• Large amounts of bored people
• Inadequate security
• Darkness

19. 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.

20. EMERGENCIES

21. 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.

22. 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

23. 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.

24. Assignment • Research First AidTreatments for:
– Burns
– Scrapes, bruises, cuts
– Slips/falls
– Poisoning
– Fainting
– Other medical emergencies