Airlines’ safety recordAirlines’ safety recordOne thing safety experts are quick to emphasize is the remarkable One thing safety experts are quick to emphasize is the remarkable safety record of commercial airlines.safety record of commercial airlines.Only one in 1.2 million flights ends up in an accident, according to Only one in 1.2 million flights ends up in an accident, according to NTSB statistics. NTSB statistics. Vast improvements in safety training, in nonflammable aircraft Vast improvements in safety training, in nonflammable aircraft materials and in firefighting equipment have made flying much materials and in firefighting equipment have made flying much safer than driving.safer than driving.

Accident probabilityAccident probabilityThe average chances of being killed in an airplane crash in The average chances of being killed in an airplane crash in the United States are about the United States are about 11 in in 11 million11 million. . The odds of The odds of dying in an auto accident are about one in 5,000.dying in an auto accident are about one in 5,000.

Survival rateSurvival rate

U.S. NTSB study U.S. 1983-2000 – survivability is U.S. NTSB study U.S. 1983-2000 – survivability is 95.7%.95.7%.

In serious accidents where fire and substantial damage In serious accidents where fire and substantial damage occurred, occurred, 76.6%76.6% of passengers still survived. of passengers still survived.

40%40% of fatalities that did occur happened in crashes that of fatalities that did occur happened in crashes that were survivable. were survivable. 

Close to Close to 50%50% of all airplane crash fatalities might have been of all airplane crash fatalities might have been prevented had passengers taken proper action.prevented had passengers taken proper action.

As safe as an escalatorAs safe as an escalator"Riding on a commercial airplane has got about the same "Riding on a commercial airplane has got about the same amount of risk as riding on an escalator."amount of risk as riding on an escalator."That doesn't mean we should take it lightly and that we That doesn't mean we should take it lightly and that we shouldn't be prepared. shouldn't be prepared. Don't let it scare you. Don't let it scare you. Just have a planJust have a plan..

Fly in bigger planes if possibleFly in bigger planes if possible

Fly jet instead of turbopropFly jet instead of turboprop

… … and ideally, western-made aircraftand ideally, western-made aircraft

Fly with a legacy airline if you want Fly with a legacy airline if you want value / protectionvalue / protection

DRESS FOR SURVIVALDRESS FOR SURVIVALBefore you leave for the Before you leave for the airport, dress airport, dress appropriately. In the event appropriately. In the event of an emergency. You'll of an emergency. You'll want to be wearing want to be wearing practical shoes and practical shoes and clothing.clothing.

Imagine having to run away from a Imagine having to run away from a burning plane. If you have to do that, burning plane. If you have to do that, how well are your flip-flops going to how well are your flip-flops going to perform? How well are your high-perform? How well are your high-heeled shoes going to perform?heeled shoes going to perform?

According to the NTSB report, 68 According to the NTSB report, 68 percent of passengers killed in plane percent of passengers killed in plane accidents died as a result of injuries accidents died as a result of injuries sustained during post-crash fires.sustained during post-crash fires.

It's smart to wear long pants It's smart to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts to and long-sleeved shirts to protect your skin from flames protect your skin from flames and glass, metal, sharp objects and glass, metal, sharp objects and the elements. and the elements.

It’s better to wear tie-on shoes It’s better to wear tie-on shoes that you're not going to run out that you're not going to run out of and long pants. of and long pants.

Jeans are good. In the summer Jeans are good. In the summer that's really tough, but short that's really tough, but short shorts are just real dangerousshorts are just real dangerous

Choice of seatChoice of seat

After you board, find the two closest exits and count the After you board, find the two closest exits and count the rows between them and your seat. In the event of darkness rows between them and your seat. In the event of darkness or smoke, feel the seats and count until you reach the exit or smoke, feel the seats and count until you reach the exit row.row.

Remember the Five Row RuleRemember the Five Row Rulethose who survive a plane crash typically only have to move those who survive a plane crash typically only have to move an average of five rows to escape. Beyond five rows the an average of five rows to escape. Beyond five rows the chance of getting out alive decreases.chance of getting out alive decreases.

FIVE-ROW RULEFIVE-ROW RULE Better chances Better chances of escapeof escape

Less chances of Less chances of escapeescape

Aisle seat: Aisle seat:

64% survival64% survival

Window seat: Window seat:

58% survival58% survival

In case evacuation In case evacuation is requiredis required

Family travelFamily travel

If you're with your family, If you're with your family, ddivide the responsibility of helping ivide the responsibility of helping your children between you and your spouse. It's easier for your children between you and your spouse. It's easier for one parent to help a single child than for both to try to keep one parent to help a single child than for both to try to keep everyone together.everyone together.

TTalk to your children about what to do in the event of an alk to your children about what to do in the event of an emergency.emergency.

In your rush to get out of the plane, don’t forget your kids. In your rush to get out of the plane, don’t forget your kids.

That actually happens. Your brain does stupid things in That actually happens. Your brain does stupid things in disasters. Keep reminding yourself, “I have kids. I have kids. disasters. Keep reminding yourself, “I have kids. I have kids. I have kids.”I have kids.”

Pay attention to the preflight instructions, Pay attention to the preflight instructions, as planes can have different equipmentas planes can have different equipment..

READ THE SAFETY CARDREAD THE SAFETY CARD

Think before you drink. Consuming alcohol will slow Think before you drink. Consuming alcohol will slow your response time and cloud your decision-making.your response time and cloud your decision-making.You want full presence of mind in the event of a crash.You want full presence of mind in the event of a crash.

THE PLUS 3 / MINUS 8 RULETHE PLUS 3 / MINUS 8 RULE

In the aviation world, In the aviation world, Plus 3/Minus 8 Plus 3/Minus 8 refers to the first three refers to the first three minutes after takeoff and the last eight minutes before landing. minutes after takeoff and the last eight minutes before landing.

According to flight crash investigators, close to 80% of all plane According to flight crash investigators, close to 80% of all plane crashes occur during this time frame (the events leading up to the crashes occur during this time frame (the events leading up to the recent Asiana crash happened during the last 8 minutes of recent Asiana crash happened during the last 8 minutes of descent). descent).

In between those times, the chances of a plane crash occurring In between those times, the chances of a plane crash occurring drop dramatically. drop dramatically. Thus, if you want to up your chances of survival, you need to be Thus, if you want to up your chances of survival, you need to be extra vigilant and ready to take action during the first 3 minutes extra vigilant and ready to take action during the first 3 minutes after takeoff and the last 8 minutes before landing. after takeoff and the last 8 minutes before landing. Stay awake during these periods.Stay awake during these periods.

• BEFORE TAKEOFF AND LANDING:BEFORE TAKEOFF AND LANDING:• Don’t sleep.Don’t sleep.• Make sure your shoes are on and secured. Make sure your shoes are on and secured. • Women: wear flats and not high heels. It’s hard to run in stilettos.Women: wear flats and not high heels. It’s hard to run in stilettos.• Make sure your seatbelt is securely fastened — low and tight.Make sure your seatbelt is securely fastened — low and tight.• Headphones offHeadphones off• Go over your action plan.Go over your action plan.• You don’t need to be paranoid during this time, just vigilantly relaxed.You don’t need to be paranoid during this time, just vigilantly relaxed.• During these times, it makes sense to keep your shoes on, keep your During these times, it makes sense to keep your shoes on, keep your

tray table up and make note of the two nearest exits (both in front of tray table up and make note of the two nearest exits (both in front of and behind you). Have a clear path to the aisle and the nearest exitand behind you). Have a clear path to the aisle and the nearest exit

• Experts also recommend placing a carry-on item under the seat in Experts also recommend placing a carry-on item under the seat in front of you. That gives a block there so the feet and legs can't go up front of you. That gives a block there so the feet and legs can't go up under the seat in front. Broken bones in feet and legs are common in under the seat in front. Broken bones in feet and legs are common in crashes.crashes.

Ready for the impact.Ready for the impact.

The official FAA crash position is to extend your arms, The official FAA crash position is to extend your arms, cross your hands and place them on the seat in front of cross your hands and place them on the seat in front of you, and then place your head against the back of your you, and then place your head against the back of your hands. hands.

ASSUME BRACE ASSUME BRACE POSITIONPOSITION

Tuck your feet under your seat as far as you can. If you Tuck your feet under your seat as far as you can. If you have no seat in front of you, bend your upper body over have no seat in front of you, bend your upper body over with your head down and wrap your arms behind your with your head down and wrap your arms behind your knees. Always stow your carry-on bag under the seat in knees. Always stow your carry-on bag under the seat in front of you to block the area.front of you to block the area.

ASSUME BRACE ASSUME BRACE POSITIONPOSITION

ASSUME BRACE ASSUME BRACE POSITIONPOSITION

• Research has shown that brace positions increase the Research has shown that brace positions increase the chances of survival in an emergency crash landing. The chances of survival in an emergency crash landing. The positions help reduce the velocity of your head when positions help reduce the velocity of your head when it inevitably slams into the seat in front of you. Moreover, it inevitably slams into the seat in front of you. Moreover, they help minimize limb flailing.they help minimize limb flailing.

• Also, make sure your seatbelt is securely fastened, low Also, make sure your seatbelt is securely fastened, low and tight over your lap. These are designed to withstand and tight over your lap. These are designed to withstand 3,000 pounds of force, which is about three times as 3,000 pounds of force, which is about three times as much as your body could handle without passing out.much as your body could handle without passing out.

Put on your oxygen masPut on your oxygen mask as soon as k as soon as it drops. it drops. You have no more than 60 You have no more than 60 seconds seconds before you pass outbefore you pass out..

DECOMPRESSION / EMERGENCY DESCENTDECOMPRESSION / EMERGENCY DESCENT

You have less than You have less than a minutea minute before you before you pass out. That's why they tell you to put pass out. That's why they tell you to put on your mask before assisting others. on your mask before assisting others. You won't be able to help anyone if you You won't be able to help anyone if you are unconscious.are unconscious.

Airplane cabins are pressurized so you can breathe Airplane cabins are pressurized so you can breathe normally at 30,000 feet. When a cabin loses pressure, normally at 30,000 feet. When a cabin loses pressure, there’s so little air at high altitudes that getting oxygen to there’s so little air at high altitudes that getting oxygen to your bloodstream is next to impossible. That’s where your bloodstream is next to impossible. That’s where oxygen masks come in. They pump pure oxygen into your oxygen masks come in. They pump pure oxygen into your nose and mouth so that you can get the air you need.nose and mouth so that you can get the air you need.

According to passenger studies, most folks think they can According to passenger studies, most folks think they can survive an hour without a mask after a plane loses survive an hour without a mask after a plane loses pressure. pressure. Just a few seconds of oxygen deprivation Just a few seconds of oxygen deprivation can cause mental impairmentcan cause mental impairment. .

Don’t panicDon’t panic

Many people who perish in plane crashes could have avoided it if Many people who perish in plane crashes could have avoided it if they had not made some fatal errors. they had not made some fatal errors.

The biggest enemy in a crash scenario is The biggest enemy in a crash scenario is panicpanic. Keeping your . Keeping your wits and maintaining focus will do more to save you than anything wits and maintaining focus will do more to save you than anything else. else.

Panic is the reason that many passengers find themselves unable Panic is the reason that many passengers find themselves unable to do something as simple as releasing their seatbelt. The most to do something as simple as releasing their seatbelt. The most frequent use of a safety belt is in your car, with a push-button frequent use of a safety belt is in your car, with a push-button release. In the heat if the moment, remembering that the plane's release. In the heat if the moment, remembering that the plane's belt has a pull-release isn't second nature. belt has a pull-release isn't second nature.

For this reason, many crash victims are found still strapped into For this reason, many crash victims are found still strapped into their seats.their seats.

Overcome the Normalcy Bias With an Action Plan

We’re all naturally affected by the Normalcy Bias. This state of mind causes our brains to assume that things will be predictable and normal all the time. 

When things aren’t normal, it takes our brain a long time to process this. Instead of springing to action when something unexpected happens, our brain kind of shrugs and figures that what is going on can’t be so bad, because truly bad events are so out of the ordinary.

• Should it be nighttime, or the interior lights fail, you won’t have to succumb to confusion because you’ll know right where to go.

• Size up the passengers around you to see who could be potential roadblocks to your exit.

• Mentally rehearse quickly springing to action as soon as the plane comes to a stop.

• Another reason it’s important to have an action plan is that there’s a good chance you won’t have too much assistance from the flight crew. One study found that 45 percent of the flight attendants in survivable crashes are incapacitated in some way.

• You need to be ready to take action without direction from anyone.

EvacuationEvacuation

In the event of fire, stay as low as you can and get out as In the event of fire, stay as low as you can and get out as quickly as possible. The smoke and fumes from a quickly as possible. The smoke and fumes from a burning plane are highly toxic and more likely to kill you burning plane are highly toxic and more likely to kill you than the flames.than the flames.

EvacuationEvacuation

No matter what you believe can't be replaced, never No matter what you believe can't be replaced, never attempt to take your carry-on luggage with you during an attempt to take your carry-on luggage with you during an emergency exit.emergency exit.

EvacuationEvacuation

If you make it out of the plane in one piece, get as far If you make it out of the plane in one piece, get as far away as possible as quickly as you can and tuck behind away as possible as quickly as you can and tuck behind something large in case of an explosion.something large in case of an explosion.

90-second rule90-second rule

The airline industry refers to the first 90 seconds of a plane The airline industry refers to the first 90 seconds of a plane crash as "golden time." If you're able to stay calm and move crash as "golden time." If you're able to stay calm and move fast within this time frame, you have a good chance at fast within this time frame, you have a good chance at getting out of the plane.getting out of the plane.

It takes, on average, It takes, on average, just 90 secondsjust 90 seconds for a fire to burn  for a fire to burn through the plane’s aluminum fuselage and through the plane’s aluminum fuselage and consume everything and everyone in it. consume everything and everyone in it.

DitchingDitching

Don't inflate your life vest until you're outside the cabin. Don't inflate your life vest until you're outside the cabin. It will restrict your movement. It will restrict your movement.