“EXTREME PRECAUTIONS”
by Contributor
(Jun. 27, 2019) — As we develop more advanced technologies, the rate of general accidents and plane crashes have reduced. In 2018, there were only 15 fatal crashes in the United States, which is a drop from 16 in 2016. These advances are because of special precautions that the airline industry takes. Additionally, every passenger receives safety instructions before the flight begins to ensure that they know what to do in cases of emergencies.
All of this is to say we’ve come a long way from being afraid of plane crashes. However, accidents do happen, and planes do crash. When they do, it’s often best to know what to do so that you can protect yourself and the people around you. Here are some safety tips that just might save your life in the unlikely event of a plane crash.
Dress appropriately.
This will probably shock you since the air hostesses don’t mention anything like that during their presentation. However, wearing the right clothes for your flight might just save your life because according to the National Safety Board, as much as 68% of people die due to post-crash fires. How do you protect yourself from this? Wear long-sleeved shirts and full pants for your flight because they will protect your skin. Sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised at how effective it is.
Choose the right seats.
Depending on when you book your flight ticket, you might not be able to choose what seats you get on the plane. Additionally, you may prefer one class to another. However, if you can choose, then you should go for the back of the plane. You’d think that an upper level like the business class would hold more chances of survival, but it’s the other way around. The farther back you are in the plane, the higher your chances of survival. The chances of survival while sitting in the back is 69%, while the business class is at 49%, according to the National Safety Board.
However, you should know that there really isn’t a ‘safest seat’ on the plane. It all depends on the situation. But then, whatever seat you get, be sure you know where the closest exit is, and what the quickest way to get there is. That way, you can find your way, even if the cabin is filled with smoke.
Stay calm.
This advice is as useful in plane crashes as it is in any other life scenario. You have to stay calm in emergencies so you’ll be able to better process what’s going on and find a solution. You can get so flustered that you actually forget how to unbuckle your seat belt when you panic. On the other hand, when you’re calm, you’ll be able to remember all the safety training you got before lift-off, as well as these tips! A level head will also help you find the exit and maybe even help your fellow passengers.
Get away from the plane.
If your plane hits the ground, there’s a very high chance that it will explode. Jet fuel is incredibly flammable, and there’s no telling what compartments of the plane were damaged in the crash. You should try to get as far away from the crash as possible.
Conclusion
The fantastic news is that the odds of you being in a plane crash are about one to 11 million. That means you’d have to take 11 million flights to even qualify for a plane crash. Even then, your chances of survival are pretty high. Also, airlines take extreme precautions to make sure that they never happen, so you can rest assured. However, it’s always best to be prepared. You can even find a flight school here, and learn how to fly. It just might give you a better sense of confidence in the safety of airplanes.