• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.12-20
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• 2011

This study was performed for identifying the characteristics of mass gathering and human injury in mass gathering based on the literature survey and analysis of mass gathering and crowd packing. The size and density of crowd influenced the characteristics of mass gathering according to type of mass gathering. The variables and causes of human injuries of mass gathering have positive or negative influences based on the weather, attendance, duration, location, mobility, event type, crowd mood, alcohol, drug, crowd density and age. Based on the physical mechanism of crowd packing, the degree of crowd packing was influenced by crowd pressure, crowd density and lasting time. But the magnitude of pressure for pedestrian injury criteria remains for further research.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.49-60
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• 2023

After the 10.29 Itaewon disaster, interests in the crowd crush injury increased, but it is pointed out that the academic and practical basis related to crowd crush is still weak in Korea. Therefore, in this study, terms and concepts related to crowd crush were investigated and proposed, and representative cases of crowd crush events were investigated and summarized. Approaches based on representative cases were investigated, and among them, video analysis, simulation, questionnaire survey and interview methods were derived as an essential approach methods. Through this research, it is expected that standardization of Korean terminology, concept establishment, evaluation, and systematization of approach methods of crowd crush can be accomplished.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.96-103
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• 2023

Generally, human stampedes and crowd collapses occur when people press against each other, causing falls that may result in death or injury. Particularly, crowd accidents have become increasingly common since the 1990s, with an average of 380 deaths annually. For instance, in Korea, a stampede occurred during the Itaewon Halloween festival on October 29, 2022, when several people crowded onto a narrow, downhill road, which was 45 meters long and between 3.2 and 4 meters wide. Precisely, this stampede was primarily due to the excessive number of people relative to the road size. Essentially, stampedes can occur anywhere and at any time, not just at events, but also in other places where large crowds gather. More specifically, the likelihood of accidents increases when the crowd density exceeds a turbulence threshold of 5-6 /m². Meanwhile, festivals and events, which have become more frequent and are promoted through social media, garner people from near and far to a specific location. Besides, as cities grow, the number of people gathering in one place increases. While stampedes are rare, their impact is significant, and the uncertainty associated with them is high. Currently, there is no scientific system to analyze the risk of stampedes due to crowd concentration. Consequently, to prevent such accidents, it is essential to prepare for crowd disasters that reflect social changes and regional characteristics. Hence, this study proposes using digital topographic maps and crowd-density risk simulations to develop a 3D model of the region. Specifically, the crowd density simulation allows for an analysis of the density of people walking along specific paths, which enables the prediction of danger areas and the risk of crowding. By using the simulation method in this study, it is anticipated that safety measures can be rationally established for specific situations, such as local festivals, and preparations may be made for crowd accidents in downtown areas.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.421-424
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• 2023

This case report presents the case of a 49-year-old man who presented to our level I trauma center after sustaining injuries in an altercation with local law enforcement in which he was shot with a less lethal bean bag and tased. In a primary survey, a penetrating left supraclavicular wound was noted in addition to a taser dart lodged in his flank. No other traumatic findings were noted in a secondary survey. Given hemodynamic stability, completion imaging was obtained, revealing a foreign body in the left lung, a left open clavicle fracture, a C5 tubercle fracture, a possible grade I left vertebral injury, and a left first rib fracture. Soft tissue gas was seen around the left subclavian and axillary arteries, although no definitive arterial injury was identified. The bean bag projectile was embedded in the parenchyma of the left lung on cross-sectional imaging. The patient underwent thoracotomy for removal of the projectile and hemostasis. A thoracotomy was chosen as the operative approach due to concerns about significant bleeding upon foreign body removal. A chest tube was placed and subsequently removed on postoperative day 5. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 7. At a 2-week outpatient follow-up visit, the patient was doing well. This case report is the first to describe this outcome for a drag-stabilized bean bag. Although law enforcement officers utilize bean bag projectiles as a "less lethal" means of crowd control and protection, these ballistics pose significant risk and can result in serious injury.