Commentary: Why are youths more susceptible to risks while on holiday?

On Oct 29 last year, a crowd crush occurred during Halloween festivities in the Itaewon neighbourhood of Seoul, South Korea. Over 150 people, including more than 20 foreigners, were killed. Several Singaporeans were reportedly in the crowd, Singapore media outlets reported later. They were lucky to make it out alive. 

There have also seen catastrophic crowd crush incidents at sporting events, such as the stampede at a football match in Indonesia in October 2022. 

Those tragedies serve as a reminder of the potential harms of being caught in a crowd. According to Risk Frontiers, a risk management company in Australia, the dangers of such situations include asphyxiation, getting trampled on, getting crushed between people or against fixed structures such as barriers.

If caught in such situations, travellers should fold their arms up in front of them at chest level, like a boxer. In this position, they can protect their ribcage when bumping into others, and ensure space around their ribs and lungs, allowing them to be able to breathe properly, according to one tip from the Singapore First Aid Training Centre.

They should also keep away from barriers such as walls, fences and other solid objects to prevent being crushed against those items, and control their breathing and avoid screaming to save their breath. 

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

One of the key considerations when planning a trip is to research the typical weather conditions of the intended destination.

With the increasing impact of climate change, weather patterns have become more erratic and unpredictable, making it essential for travellers to be prepared and adaptable. In recent months, there have been tropical storms in Japan, intense heatwaves in South Asia, and severe flooding across regions in Italy.