Families of dead victims of Bund stampede will receive compensation. (Photo : REUTERS)
Chinese experts want the country to beef up its public security. Densely crowded areas in particular are said to be risky, so the government should focus on these places. The accident during the New Year's Eve where 36 people died is a reminder that more should be done when it comes to ensuring public safety.
Public security and first aid experts want the government to give more attention to the many possible risks present in densely crowded areas, especially during large celebrations and activities.
According to Qin Liqiang, a professor at People's Public Security University of China who studies issues in security management at large public events, carrying out risk assessment could not be emphasized enough during large events like New Year celebrations in the downtown areas.
For the expert, it is during this time and place that most safety measures are called for. The expert claimed that risk assessment should be carried out ahead of these events so that the findings and evaluation could be used for coming up with the appropriate safety measures.
Accidents like the New Year's Eve incident only highlight how much the government should strengthen its "prior-assessment procedures," particularly in areas where people usually gather, and then to apply planned measures as strictly as possible.
The expert recommends the Shanghai administration to expand its staff and ask for more volunteers as well to work with the police when these large events take place.
Shaon Feng, the director of the Chinese Red Cross National Training Center, attributed the tragic incident to low public awareness of emergency response procedures.
Qin also added that cancelling large public events is not the right response to accidents. People just need to take extra precautions when they go to overcrowded places, not completely avoid them. They have to be aware and be very familiar with the area first, so that they could avoid "steps, bridges, crossroads, and near large advertising hoardings," because these areas are where stampedes usually take place.
