When an incident occurs, it is natural for members of the public to want to see what is happening. However, unintentional interference by onlookers can hinder the progress of a rescue or first aid treatment. It is important for patrol team members not directly involved in the incident to try to keep the public clear of the scene.
A ‘public address’ (PA) announcement or a loudhailer (‘megaphone’) may be used to clear an area if necessary.
You may also attempt to create a visual barrier using towels and umbrellas to help control the crowd while maintaining the victim’s privacy.
If you are short of patrol team members for crowd control, you can try allocating a bystander to this role. Most people will be happy to help, and this will give them something to do while you are focused on rescuing or treating the victim.