SeeCalifornia.com

The recent mass shooting at a concert in Las Vegas especially touched Californians — the majority of deaths were residents of  our state.

As one of California’s biggest seasonal festivals approaches, the West Hollywood Carnaval on October 31 (pictured), it’s only natural to be concerned about attending large events. West Hollywood’s free, annual street festival attacts half a million people in a single night!  While large festivals & events make for incredible security challenges, security tends to be most comprehensive when agencies are on alert. There are a few things you can do to better equip yourself before going.

Safety Considerations & Tips

From StateFarm.com

• Make sure you know where the exits are.
• Carry  identification.
• Consider leaving if the crowd seems to be getting out of control.
• Don’t wear loose clothing or accessories that could become tangled or pulled.
• Wear closed-toe shoes and keep the laces tied to prevent tripping.
• Avoid standing on or near structures that could collapse.
• Walk around crowds rather than pushing through them.
• If you’re caught in a moving crowd, walk sideways or diagonally across it to work your way out.

First Aid Tips

San Francisco General Hospital Doctor

• If you are near victims of a violent crime  ensure that you are safe — you will be no help to them if you get injured or killed.
• Call for help.
• Stop the bleeding. Apply pressure to wounds or use a tourniquet, if trained to do so. Improperly applied tourniquets may cause more harm.
• DON’T sit the patient upright.
• DON’T try to push anything into the wound. British soldiers who plugged bullet holes with their fingers at the Las Vegas concert were trained to do so.
• Take first aid classes available through local Red Cross chapters and county health departments.