Despite the fact that air travel is considered one of the safest ways to travel, accidents still happen. It will not be possible to completely eliminate the risk of an air disaster, but it is quite possible to increase your chances of survival.
In 2007, reporters of Popular Mechanics magazine analyzed What Is the Safest Seat on a Plane? / Popular Mechanics data on survivors after 20 plane crashes. It turned out that the seats in the tail, behind the rear edge of the wing, are the safest — 69% of passengers escaped there. 56% of people survived in the seats located in the center, and 49% in the front part.
In 2015, Time reporters conducted This Is the Safest Place to Sit on a Plane / Time similar study. And they also confirmed that the safest area on the aircraft is the tail. According to their data, only 32% of passengers died in the last third of the aircraft, whereas in the middle — 39%, and in the front — 38%.
In addition, the seats next to the aisle were safer. 28% of people died in the seats in the rear and further from the window, while 44% died in the middle of the cabin next to the porthole.
And although survival largely depends on what caused the accident, if you are worried before traveling, buying tickets for seats next to the aisle in the back of the plane can reduce the tension a little.
In any airplane, in the pocket of the forward seat, there is an instruction with safety rules. Be sure to check it out after landing.
The booklet will indicate where the emergency exits from the aircraft are located, how to open the doors, where to find rescue equipment and how to behave during dangerous situations.
Read the information, look around and find emergency exits. Count the number of rows before them and remember the location. Pay attention not only to the nearest exit: during an accident, it may be blocked.
While the plane is in the air, all you can do is not to panic and clearly follow all the instructions of the flight attendant. Since your survival largely depends on how quickly you can orient yourself, first of all you need to take care of your mental state.
It is very difficult to keep cool when there is panic around, because this is a natural reaction of the body to a stressful situation. It all starts with a slight anxiety and can end with complete insanity. In addition to clouding consciousness, panic can negatively affect other body systems. People with cardiac pathologies are in a special risk group.
To prevent the worst, you need to try to relax and breathe deeply. In a stressful situation, the rhythm of the lungs is disrupted, gas exchange is disrupted, and this can lead to panic. Deep breathing also helps to normalize the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
In addition, long breaths and exhalations switch the autonomic nervous system to the parasympathetic "calm" department, which helps Relaxation techniques: Breath control helps quell errant stress response / Harvard Health Publishing normalize the emotional state.
It doesn't matter if the plane is falling or preparing for takeoff, the passenger must fasten himself as soon as he sits in the chair. To fix the body in the correct position, tighten the belt as much as possible and slide the buckle into the pelvic area.
Do not unbutton it, even when sleeping . This will protect you from injuries during turbulence and increase the chance of rescue in a plane crash.
First, check if you have sharp objects in your pockets (for example, pens or keys) that can harm you during a hard landing. Also take a look at whether heavy bags are located above you — they can fall on your head from a push.
Eliminate dangerous items and then accept Rules of conduct in a plane crash / EMERCOM of Russia correct position: fasten your seat belt, bend over and lock your hands tightly under your knees or grab your ankles. Place your head on your knees or tilt it as low as possible. Put your feet on the floor, pushing them as far as possible, but not under the next chair.
If you cannot bend completely due to the forward seat, rest your head against its back.
A fixed posture reduces the likelihood of serious injury.
If the air tightness of the cabin is broken due to an accident, will occur Rules of conduct in a plane crash / EMERCOM of Russia decompression. At first you will hear a deafening roar, then due to the penetration of dust and fog, visibility may deteriorate dramatically.
You will have about 15 seconds to put on an oxygen mask (if you do not have time, you will lose consciousness ). It is very important to do it yourself first and only then to help others, including young children.
When you are on the ground, stay in the seat until the plane stops completely. After that, gather all the strength for the last jerk.
After the crash, your main task is to evacuate quickly. First of all, unfasten your seat belt and immediately head towards the emergency exit.
Do not take bags with you: they make it difficult to move. The maximum is a passport and warm clothes, if they are already at hand.
Move around the cabin, holding on to the seats: in case of a crush, you will fall on them, and not at the feet of passengers.
If there is a fire on the plane, cover your mouth and nose with a cotton or woolen garment soaked in water, if possible. Move to the exit crouching or on all fours, because there is less smoke below.
It is better not to get out through hatches, near which there is an open fire or a lot of smoke. If the passage between the seats is blocked, move around the chairs, lowering the backs.
If the plane falls into the water, put on a life jacket, but do not inflate it before leaving the cabin. A bulky object can make it difficult for you and other passengers to evacuate.
After you leave the board, move away from it to the maximum possible distance. If the plane is on fire, lie down on the ground and press your head with your hands so that in the event of an explosion you will not be affected by the debris.
At first, keep your distance, but keep a close eye on the situation. Help people who need it, and wait for rescuers.
