You only have 90 seconds. British Airways has launched short crash survival courses. Top tips for survival when the plane is in distress and there is almost no time.
British Airways has launched an updated Crash Survival Short Course for those who fly frequently. For half a day and £ 135 (about $ 220), passengers are taught special techniques and skills that are not taught before the flight.
Classes are held in a simulator of a Boeing 737 aircraft, the cabin of which at the moment of takeoff begins to fill with smoke, and an evacuation takes place. In worst-case scenarios, a lot depends on whether you can prepare for a hard landing and find your way out.
For those who can't take courses, Mashable has top tips for free.
1. While demonstrating the rescue equipment, count and note the number of rows to the nearest exit. Then - to another nearest exit, remembering that it may be behind you.
2. Fasten and unfasten your seat belt several times to build muscle memory so you don't have to fiddle with it in a stressful situation. As practice has shown, falling into a panic, many passengers instinctively try to press the button, as in a car, instead of lifting the buckle bracket. Also check if your life jacket is in place: you should feel it with your hand.
3. Learn the correct impact posture. Lean forward as far as possible, bend your head. Place your feet flat on the floor and move your legs back. Place your dominant hand on the back of your head and cover the top with your other hand. Don't interlace your fingers! Your goal is to protect the more developed arm from fracture, so that later you can easily unfasten the seat belt.
4. Focus on the red glow - the exits are indicated with this color, because it best penetrates through the smoke.
5. When an evacuation is announced, every second counts. You must quickly get to the nearest exit and slide down the escape ramp. If you hesitate, the flight attendants will push you out.
6. Always inflate the lifejacket only after getting off the plane. Otherwise, in a tight space, you will be limited in movement. And if water fills the cabin, passengers in inflated vests will be pinned to the ceiling and will not be able to dive to the exit.
And here's what will further improve your chances of survival (tips from SmarterTravel, LiveScience, and wikiHow).
7. Keep your socks and shoes on. Then, in the event of an accident, you do not have to run barefoot through fire and debris.
8. Forget about your things. According to the US National Transportation Safety Board, 68% of air passengers do not die during the disaster itself, but in a fire after it. The precious time allotted for the evacuation should not be spent on collecting things - it is a matter of life and death. In addition, by rolling your luggage down the escape ramp, you detain everyone behind you.
9. Clearly remember the "90 second rule": this is the most important time after the disaster, because it is during this period that the flame has time to cover the entire fuselage. So if you don't panic and act quickly, your chances of escape will skyrocket.
10. After getting out of the plane, do not stop - move (or swim) at least 150 meters from the wreckage so as not to suffer from a fire, a possible explosion or acrid smoke. But don't get too far away so as not to get lost: first of all, rescuers look for survivors near the wreckage.
Every day 93, 5 thousand passenger planes take off from airports around the world. The vast majority safely reach their destination - not without reason air transport is considered the safest. And if, nevertheless, something went wrong, remember: most passengers can survive even in the most difficult situations. The main thing is not to panic and use the knowledge gained.
