Many people believe that a plane crash leaves almost no chance of survival. Therefore, they do not consider it necessary to carefully study the safety instructions. Although, for example, the crash of the Boeing 777 of the South Korean airline Asiana Airlines proves that if the evacuation rules are followed, the number of victims can be significantly reduced. In the accident that occurred at San Francisco International Airport, 305 of the 307 people on board were rescued!
We have already told you how you can increase your chances of survival in a plane crash. But for those who are particularly afraid to fly, here are a few more rules, following which, you are more likely to survive a plane crash.
When going on a trip, choose clothes so that you are as comfortable as possible in case of an emergency. Here's what Cynthia Corbett, an employee of the US Federal Aviation Administration, advises (approx.author: FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA):
Imagine running out of a burning plane. For example, you should not wear high—heeled shoes or light flip-flops - it is inconvenient to run in them. It is important that during emergency situations, shoes do not fall off your feet, and the exposed surfaces of the body are protected by a dense fabric, like denim.
Long sleeves and pants can protect against splinters and burns: according to experts from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), 68% of victims are caused by fires that occur after accidents.
According to research by Popular Mechanics magazine, the safest seats are located in the rear of the cabin. After analyzing fatal plane crashes that have occurred over the past 40 years, experts cite the following statistics: on average, those sitting in the back of the cabin have 40% more chances to survive. Also try to stay close to the emergency exit and closer to the aisle between the rows.
Professor Ed Galea, a fire safety specialist from the University of Greenwich in England, found that surviving passengers usually sit within five rows of emergency exits:
During an emergency, it is better to sit closer to the aisle than at the porthole or in the middle.
Experts say that the most dangerous time is the first three minutes after takeoff and eight minutes before landing: force majeure occurs more often at these stages of the flight — at this time it is better not to take off your shoes and not lose sight of the two nearest emergency exits. Place your hand luggage under the seat of the passenger sitting in front — it will help to avoid injury, as it will not allow you to slip under the seat in front, because leg fractures are quite common among the victims of plane crashes.
If a crash or an emergency landing cannot be avoided, behave calmly, do not panic. Take the so-called "survival pose": with your palms crossed, put them on the back of the seat in front, then press your forehead to your palms — this way you have a better chance of surviving an accident, if there is no seat in front, lean forward and hug your knees with your hands.
Also take out of your pockets all sharp and angular objects like pens and keys: in an emergency, even an ordinary comb can cause harm.
Remember, if you are able to leave the cabin within 90 seconds after the crash, the chances of escape increase significantly: some passengers in a state of panic are not even able to unbuckle their seat belt — their bodies are then found sitting in the seats.
In an interview with WebMD Cynthia Corbett told:
It is important to know how to behave in an emergency, even if there are no instructions from the crew: it happens that people just sit and wait for them to be told what to do, and the situation worsens in the meantime.
In the incident with Flight 217, most of the victims were avoided because the victims managed to quickly evacuate from the aircraft. John Hansman, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the head of the International Air Transportation Center operating at this university, believes:
If someone had hesitated, things could have been much worse.
And Corbett adds:
Do not try to find and collect your luggage, it may take precious time.
Transport security experts are encouraging: according to NTSB statistics (approx. author: National Transportation Safety Board - National Transportation Safety Board), only one of 1.2 million commercial flights gets into an accident. Aircraft crews are carefully working out measures to prevent various emergency situations, new safe non-toxic materials and more advanced fire-fighting systems of winged vehicles are being created.
The chance of dying in a plane crash is 1 in 11,000,000, whereas, for example, in a car accident — 1 in 5,000, so now it is much safer for a person to fly than to drive a car.
John Hansman states:
Being on board an airliner, you risk no more than going down to the subway on an escalator.
Cynthia Corbett, an employee of the US Federal Aviation Administration, sums up the results:
I believe that traveling by air is the safest way to travel. But during the flight, we should not forget about safety precautions and rules of conduct on board. Don't be afraid to fly, just follow the instructions clearly.
