Your chances of perish when you fly are one in 4.7 million. If the mortality due to plane accidents is at its lowest, certain precautions can increase our chances of survival in the event of a plane crash. What to do (and not to do!) in the event of an accident on board an aircraft? These 6 tips could save your life.
How to sit in the event of a plane crash to increase your chances of survival?
In a crash simulation made in 2015, Boeing discovered that passengers who wore their belts and put themselves in a protective position (flat feet, head against the knees or against the front seat if possible) were most likely to survive a crash.
Passengers wearing their belts, but not taking this position suffered serious injuries, and those without a belt or protective position were killed at the time of impact.
The safest place where you can sit: at the back of the cabin (behind the wings of the plane)
A study published in Popular Mechanics on 20 airliner crashes that caused deaths and survivors established that passengers sitting in the back of the cabin (behind the wings) had 69 percent more chances of surviving, compared to 49 percent for first-class passengers.
But it may not be necessary to sacrifice comfort for safety reasons: the seats adjacent to the emergency exits are perhaps the safest of the entire aircraft. In the event of an evacuation, the closer you are to an emergency exit, the higher your chances of getting out unscathed.
What to do in a plane crash?
Put on the oxygen mask as soon as it falls. During the depressurization of the cabin, the scarcity of oxygen can make us lose consciousness in just 20 seconds.
Listen very carefully to the flight attendants: always put on your oxygen mask before helping someone else. You will not be able to help anyone if you are unconscious.
In the event of an accident, leave your cabin baggage on the plane and get out quickly
The cabin crew on board the plane ask you to ensure that your luggage does not obstruct the aisles for an excellent reason: in the event of evacuation, they must not hinder the passage to the exit.
Since you only have 90 seconds to leave the scene of a fire, the precious time you would spend catching your luggage could ultimately become a matter of life or death.
The safest clothes to increase your chances of survival in the event of an accident?
Wear non-flammable clothing. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board tells us that 68 percent of deaths in aircraft accidents occur in fires following the crash rather than at the time of impact.
Fortunately, this is a possibility for which you can prepare days in advance by packing your bags: the day you fly, avoid wearing synthetic fiber clothes such as polyester and nylon.
Instead, opt for cotton and wool (good news for those who are the type to show up at the airport in sweatpants). Also a good idea to choose long pants (such as jeans) and long-sleeved shirts that will better protect you from flames and sharp objects.
What to put on a plane to increase your chances of survival in the event of an accident?
Make sure you wear shoes that will never leave your feet. Sandals may seem ideal for passing the safety gates without having to take off your shoes, but in the chaos of an accident or evacuation, they will only slow you down.
In the same way, high heels will make you stumble and can even be sharp enough to puncture the emergency slide. Wear a pair of comfortable flat shoes and keep them on your feet throughout the flight. Not only could lying shoes hinder other passengers and hinder your own escape during an evacuation.