Crowds and Mass Gatherings

Mass gatherings pose unique risks due to large crowds and limitations of infrastructure, security, and health systems in the host country. This post provides strategies for assessing potential risks and implementing reasonable mitigation measures. 

Follow UTD policies and guidelines for International travel   

• Obtain appropriate travel authorization before departure.   
• Register your trip with On Call International.   

What are mass gatherings? 

The Olympic Games, The Hajj, and other major sporting, religious, and cultural events are all examples of a planned mass gathering, mass gatherings can also be spontaneous events. For all planned events, the host country usually has extensive preparedness and response capabilities, and still mass gatherings may stretch infrastructure, security and health systems. Some potential risks include: 

• Stampedes, structural collapses, crowd-crush, and injuries due to dense crowds. 
• Foodborne illnesses due to insufficient sanitation practices and facilities. 
• Dehydration, heat exhaustion, or frostbite due to exposure to extreme heat or cold. 
• Outbreaks of infectious diseases like COVID-19, influenza, and meningitis due to crowded settings. 
• Demonstrations, bad actors, or other public safety issues. 

Before Your Trip 

• Understand requirements of the host country for participating in the event, including medical tests and vaccinations required. 
• Assess your destination risks. Taking the time to understand and mitigate risks at your destination will enhance your safety 
• Create a plan to manage medical emergencies abroad, that includes informing your doctors about your upcoming trip, getting a general checkup and discussing any health concerns related to your trip, including managing conditions, vaccinations, and medications while abroad. 
• Create an emergency communications plan to help you manage emergencies while abroad. 
• Obtain UTD travel authorization before departure and register your trip. 
• Review your insurance benefits abroad. UTD travelers can learn more at the Know Your Insurance webpage. 
• Enroll in the U.S. Department of State’s STEP program to get alerts for your destination. 
• Use the U.S. Department of State’s Country Sheet for your destination to find local sources of alerts and warnings and subscribe to them. 

During Your Trip 

• Find out where to access emergency medical services and keep the local emergency services contact information handy.  
• UTD travelers can call On Call International 24/7: +1 (978) 651-9722 for immediate assistance while abroad on a UTD authorized activity. 
• Stay alert, be mindful of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas. Upon arrival to an event or location, identify emergency exits. 
• Be mindful of the food you consume, lean towards established locales, well-cooked food, and bottled water, and sanitize your hands before you eat. 
• Be aware of symptoms of heat-related illnesses or frostbite and act accordingly to minimize their impact on you or others around you.  
• Consider masking up with high quality masks, such as N95, if you are sick, others are sick around you, or you will be for long periods in a crowded environment. Wash or disinfect your hands frequently. 
• If caught in a crowd-crush or stampede:
  • Protect yourself by keeping your hands in front of your chest for protection and maintain your footing. 
  • Go with the flow and don’t resist the crowd’s movement. 
  • During any pauses in movement, try to navigate diagonally toward the outskirts. 
  • If you fall, stay calm and get up immediately. If you can’t get up, ask for help, or curl into a ball and shield your head and neck. 

After Your Trip 

• Schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctors to address any health issues that came up during or after your trip. 
• Make any necessary updates to your medical emergency plan based on your experiences or changes in your health or insurance. 

Sources 

1. CDC Traveller’s Health – Guidance on health risks, vaccination recommendations, and preventive measures for travelers. It aims to help individuals stay healthy while traveling internationally. 
2. CDC Mass Gatherings – Guidance on mass gatherings from the CDC provides health and safety measures to reduce risks and ensure attendee safety at large events. 
3. U.S. Department of State (DOS) – Check the latest safety levels, local laws, and health risks for your destination.  
4. International Risk and Safety website
5. Traveler Toolkit.
6. Special Reports.

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