The odds of dying on a commercial airline flight are actually only 9 million to 1. However, a lot of bad things can happen at 10,000 meters above the ground, and if you're unlucky enough to fly when it happens, the decisions you make can decide between life and death. There are survivors in nearly 95% of plane crashes so even if the worst does happen, your chances of surviving are not as bad as you might think. You can learn to prepare for the safety of every flight, stay calm during the plane crash itself, and survive the aftermath of the crash.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Preparing to Fly Safely
Step 1. Wear comfortable clothes
You should try to stay warm if you survive an accident. While temperature is not a consideration, the more covered you are at the time of a collision, the less likely you are to suffer serious injury or burns. Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and lace-up shoes that are strong and comfortable.
- Loose or excessive clothing poses a risk, as it can get caught in objects in the aircraft's small space. If you're flying over cold areas, wear appropriate clothing and consider having a jacket on your lap.
- Also, cotton or wool clothes are better because they are less flammable. However, wool is better than cotton when flying over water, because when it's wet, wool can still withstand cold temperatures compared to cotton.
Step 2. Wear appropriate shoes
While you may want to feel comfortable or look professional on the flight, sandals or high heels make it difficult for you to move quickly in case of an emergency. High heels should not be worn on evacuation slides and if you wear sandals, your feet or fingers may be injured by broken glass or flammable liquids in or on them.
Step 3. Sit on the tail of the airplane
Passengers in the tail of the plane have a 40% higher safety rate than those sitting in the front row when an accident occurs. Since exiting quickly gives you the best chance of survival, we recommend taking the seat closest to the exit, in the aisle and at the back of the plane.
Yes, right. This means that statistically, it will be safer to fly economy class compared to first class flights. You can save money while still being more secure
Step 4. Read the aircraft safety card and listen to the safety instructions before the flight
Yes, you've probably heard of it. However, if you ignore pre-flight instructions or ignore an aircraft safety card, you will be missing out on information that could be very important in the event of an accident.
- Don't assume that you already know. Each type of aircraft has different safety instructions.
- If you're sitting in an exit row, study the exit and make sure you know how to open it if you have to do it later. Under normal circumstances, the flight attendant will open the exit door. However, if they are killed or injured, you will have to unlock them yourself.
Step 5. Count the number of seats between your seat and the row of seats near the exit
Find the exit closest to you and calculate the number of seats you have to pass to reach that exit. If the plane crashes, the cabin may be smoky, noisy or confusing afterward.
You can even jot down the number of seats with a pen in your hand, so you'll have a quick reference when needed
Step 6. Always wear a seat belt at all times
Every centimeter of loose seat belt will make the gravitational force you experience in an accident three times stronger. Therefore, try to keep your seat belt fastened properly while in the plane.
- Push the seat belt as low as possible on your hips. You should be able to feel the ridge of your hipbone above the top edge of the belt. Your hip bones work better to help hold you in an emergency situation than your soft belly.
- Keep your seat belt on even when you are sleeping. If something happens while you're unconscious, you'll be grateful that you put the restraints on first.
Part 2 of 3: Preparing for a Collision
Step 1. Assess the situation
Try to determine what surface the plane will land on. For example, if you're in water, you'll need to put on a life jacket, although you'll have to wait until you're out of the plane before inflating it. If you're landing in cold weather, you should try reaching for a blanket or jacket to keep yourself warm once you get off the plane.
- Learn your route beforehand so you'll know where you are when the plane crashes. If you're flying from Iowa to California, you're almost certain you won't be landing in the ocean.
- Use the time before the accident to find a way out. If the plane is about to crash, you almost always have a few minutes to prepare before impact. Use this time to once again review where the plane's exits are.
Step 2. Make as much space as possible for you
If you know the plane is going to crash, return your seat to a fully upright position and if possible, store any loose items that could be dangerous. Close the zip of the jacket and make sure your shoes are securely fastened to the feet. Then, take one or two of the standard holding positions used to save yourself from a plane crash and try to stay calm.
In any position, the soles of your feet should be flat on the floor and further behind your knees to reduce foot and leg injuries, which you will need to successfully exit the aircraft after a collision. Place your feet under the chair as far as possible to avoid breaking your shins
Step 3. Hold yourself against the chair in front of you
If the chair in front of you is close enough to reach, place one hand palm down on the back of the chair. Then, cross the other hand with your palm over the previous hand. Rest your forehead on the two stacks of hands. Keep your fingers unconnected.
- Sometimes it is also advisable for you to lean your head directly on the seat in front of you and intertwine the fingers of your hands behind your head, pulling your upper arms up against the sides of your head to protect them.
- Bend down if there is no chair in front of you. If there's no chair close in front of you, bend over and place your chest on your thighs and your head between your knees. Cross your wrists in front of your lower calves and grip both ankles.
Step 4. Try to stay calm
Before and after the accident, you will be carried away by the chaos that ensues. However, keep a cool head and you will most likely get out safely. Remember that even in the worst of circumstances you have a chance to survive. You must be able to think methodically and rationally to maximize these opportunities.
Step 5. If the plane falls into the water, put on a life jacket but don't inflate it yet
If you expand it in the plane, when water starts to enter the fuselage, the jacket will force you to float up against the roof of the cabin, this way it will be very difficult to swim back down and trap you. Instead, hold your breath and swim out of the plane. Once you exit the cabin, inflate the life jacket.
Step 6. Put on your oxygen mask before helping others
You've probably heard of it on every commercial flight you've ever flown, but it's worth paying attention to. If the cabin is chaotic, you only have about 15 seconds or less to start breathing through the oxygen mask before falling unconscious.
While you may feel the urge to help your child or the elderly passenger sitting next to you first, you will be of no use to anyone if you end up losing consciousness. Also, keep in mind that you can put an oxygen mask on a person even if he or she has passed out. This can help save their lives
Part 3 of 3: Saving Yourself from Accident
Step 1. Protect yourself from smoke
Fire and smoke are the biggest causes of death in plane crashes. The fumes in airplane fires can be very thick and very toxic so cover your nose and mouth with a cloth to avoid inhaling it. If possible, dampen the cloth for extra protection.
Stay bent down as you exit the plane to get below the surface of the smoke. This may seem trivial, but passing out from smoke inhalation is one of the most dangerous things that can happen at critical times like this
Step 2. Get off the plane as quickly as possible
According to the United States National Transportation Safety Board (equivalent to the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee), 68 percent of deaths from airplane crashes are caused by fires following a plane crash, not from injuries sustained in the crash itself. It is very important to get out of the airplane immediately. If there is fire or smoke, you will usually have less than two minutes to safely exit the fuselage.
Make sure the exit you choose is secure. Look through the cab window to determine if there is a fire or other hazard beyond an exit. If something dangerous is there, try the exit on the other side of the plane, or keep walking towards another exit
Step 3. Listen to post-accident instructions from the flight attendants
The flight attendants have undergone rigorous training to ensure that they understand what to do in the event of an accident. If a flight attendant is able to instruct or assist you, listen carefully and work together to increase everyone's chances of safety.
Step 4. Leave your belongings
Don't try to save your belongings. This move makes sense, but some people don't seem to get it. Leave everything on the plane. Saving stuff will only slow you down.
If you end up needing to salvage supplies from the crash site, think about that later. Now you have to make sure you're out of the wreckage and find a safe haven. Come out right now
Step 5. Go at least 150 meters downwind from the wreckage
If you get lost in a remote area, it's usually best to stay close to the plane to wait for rescue teams. However, you should not get too close to the wreckage. A fire or explosion can occur at any time after an accident so keep some distance between you and the aircraft. If the accident occurs in open water, swim as far away from the wreck as possible.
Step 6. Stay in one place, but pay attention to what to do
While it's important to stay calm after an accident, you also need to be aware of when you need to act and do it quickly. Help people in need and treat the injuries suffered by passengers with the basic first aid kits available.
- Treat the wound yourself if possible. Check for cuts or abrasions on your body and apply pressure if necessary. Stay in one place to reduce the chance of exacerbating internal injuries.
- Panic for no reason is the inability to be assertive and appropriate to the situation. For example, a person may stay in their seat instead of running towards the exit. Pay attention to this with other passengers or your travel companions.
Step 7. Wait for help
You have a much higher chance of surviving if you stay still. Don't go around looking for help or trying to find something near the crash site. If your plane crashes, there will be people rushing to your place, and you'll want to be there when they arrive. Just stay still.
Tips
- If you can find a pillow or something similarly soft to protect your head in the event of a crash, use it.
- Remain in a restraint position until the plane has come to a complete stop. A second crash or spike will often follow the first.
- When landing on water, remove shoes and excess clothing before or immediately after entering the water. This will make it easier for you to swim or float.
- Get sharp objects-pens, pencils, etc.-out of your pocket before the collision. Better yet, don't take these items with you at all. Almost anything that is released in an airplane can become a lethal projectile in a plane crash.
- Forgetting how to unbuckle their seatbelts after a collision occurs is quite common among many people. It looks easy enough, but in a state of confusion, the first instinct that comes up is often to try to press a button like you would when you unbuckle a car seat belt. When that doesn't work, it's easy for everyone to panic. Before the collision, make a note in your head to remember how to quickly and easily unbuckle your seat belt.
- If you have a cell phone, call emergency services for help.
- If you don't have time to prepare for a crash and forgot some of these instructions, you can find most of the most important information on the flight safety card in the back pocket of the seat in front of you.
- The only exceptions to the "leave everything on board" rule are probably for jackets or blankets and you should always consider bringing them if you've prepared them for a crash. While wearing appropriate clothing can save your life if you get lost for a while, it's important to get off the plane safely first.
- Listen to the instructions and don't think too much about anything. This can endanger your life. Do as the flight attendant says and only stand when it is safe and you are instructed to stand.
- If you don't have anything to wet the cloth (to protect yourself from inhaling fumes), you can use urine. Violation of politeness norms like this is very understandable in an emergency situation.
Warning
- Don't push other passengers. Going out regularly increases everyone's chances of safety. Also, if you panic and start pushing, you may encounter resistance.
- Don't lie down on the plane floor. If there is smoke in the cab, try to stay in a bent position but don't crawl. You may be trampled or injured by other passengers trying to escape in conditions with limited visibility.
- Avoid excessive alcohol consumption before or during the flight. Alcohol interferes with your ability to react quickly and methodically to an accident and to evacuate the plane.
- Avoid wearing clothes made of synthetic fabrics when traveling by plane. If a fire occurs in the cabin, these materials will melt onto your skin.
- If it lands in the water, do not inflate your life jacket until you are out of the plane. If you do, you run the risk of getting stuck when the plane fills with water.
- Never hold your baby or toddler on your lap. While this may be cheaper than paying for a separate seat, your child will almost certainly not survive if you carry him or her. Pay for a separate seat for your child and use an approved child restraint.
