Point of View
Better Safety Precautions At Nightclubs
By Trevor Roberts
Jan 30, 2013 - 10:30:27 AM

UNITED STATES—Watching the news this weekend was quite horrifying after hearing about the incident that occurred at a nightclub in Brazil where more than 230 people were killed after a pyrotechnic mishap caused a fire that trapped hundreds of patrons inside.  The sad thing about this situation is that it could have been prevented. 

What’s so horrifying to discover is that a lot of the people killed were young adults and most of them were trampled the death.  A similar incident like this occurred at a club in Rhode Island back in 2003 where more than 100 people were killed.

The great thing about nightclubs is the environment; the music, the drinking, the people, but those things can be treacherous as well.  For starters, some precaution needs to be implemented that prevents the use of pyrotechnics as they are quite dangerous.  A small mishap can start a fire that can spread within a matter of minutes; and once a fire is ignited if it’s not put out in a significant time frame its tough to contain.  Furthermore, when people are intoxicated their ability to think rationally is questioned.  Logic is there to some degree, but not fully. 

But my biggest concern is that a vast majority of nightclubs across the world are notorious for having only one exit for patrons which is not acceptable.  Last weekend’s incident proves that when lives are at risk people will scramble to the exit and do whatever possible to get out, even if it means trampling others.  Every nightclub should be equipped with two, three, perhaps four exits this way patrons all have an opportunity to exit the premises safely.  If you have over 500 people all attempting to escape a club because of a fire or perhaps a shooting it creates mass hysteria and a panic that is not safe for anyone. 

Rumors have surfaced on the internet that the club at times have contained more than 2,000 people inside at one time.  Are you kidding me that is crazy?  That’s the one problem I have with nightclubs, there sometimes seems to be no limit to capacity numbers and there should be.  Yes, I get it your goal is to bring in income, but at the same time the safety of your patrons should also be a concern of yours.  Clubs should not be so packed that you can barely walk through them, but guess what that’s how most clubs are.  People are literally shoulder to shoulder.  How can you have a good time when you can barely move your body?  You can’t and it places your safety into question.

I recommend that nightclubs take a new approach; control the number of patrons that enter. Make it a goal of yours to allow a distinct number, a number that allows the patrons to be able to freely move around and also to implement strategies and escape routes that make it accessible for all patrons to escape in an orderly fashion if a fire or some other incident occurs that places people’s wellbeing at risk.  I can only imagine the horror of being trampled to death, and the guilt that may be eating away at those people who escaped the club while so many others perished. Not just a horrifying site for paramedics and firefighters, but also for everyone in the vicinity and those worldwide grappling with this unspeakable tragedy.  Better safety precautions have to be implemented in nightclubs all over the world to ensure that such tragedies like this one never occur again.