I just finished reading Ripley's "Unthinkable" . In addition to the "Competition" factor in crowd crushes, there's also crowd direction. If the crowd is headed in more then one direction, it aggravates the crush. In mt observation, there are three factors that need to be present for crowd crush. First, is crowd density. Second, is there needs to be some urgency. The last ritual of a weeklong pilgrimage, first come first serve resources, or a concert that's already underway. Lastly, is something to slow the crowd. A narrow passage like an entrance or exit or another crowd headed in a different direction.

Outside of outright avoidance, I don't know how to deal with crowds.