Many people hate flying. For some, the possibility of being involved
in a plane accident is too terrifying. Who would look forward to being sucked out
of a broken plane window thousands of feet above the ground? Fortunately, major plane crashes with large
numbers of fatalities are a rare event nowadays. One article reports that the “odds of being
killed on a single airline flight are one in 4.7 million.” And contrary to popular belief, most plane
crashes are survivable. Reports estimate that the survival rate for
airplane accident victims is 96%. Another piece of good news is that you don’t
have to feel like your life is completely in the hands of fate when you are flying in
a plane. There are things that you can do to increase
your chances of surviving a plane crash, and we will discuss five of them, in this episode
of The Infographics Show, “How to Survive a Plane Crash.” There are many suggestions about how to survive
a plane crash online. We have distilled some of the most important
ones in our “5 S’s” of airplane crash survival: 1. Strive to wear survivor attire. Don’t don that 1970s disco queen party dress
before a flight. Synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon
are flammable. If the plane catches fire after it crashes,
clothes made from these materials will melt onto your skin and burn you. Opt for less flammable natural fibers such
as cotton or wool instead. Save clothes such as short shorts and skirts
for another time. Exposed skin is more vulnerable to abrasions
and burns than covered skin. Long pants and long-sleeved shirts may not
look as sexy as your skin-baring outfits, but they will give you more protection from
plane debris and fire. Your choice of shoes is important too. Think how well you will fare if you have to
escape from a wrecked plane wearing flip-flops or stiletto heels. Sneakers and other sturdy, comfortable shoes
that you can run in are a better choice. It is also a good idea to keep your shoes
on during the entire flight. An emergency can happen at any time, and your
shoes can’t protect your feet if you don’t have them on. 2. Start planning your survival strategy early. Most airlines provide safety materials to
their passengers. Pay attention to them. Don’t doze off during the pre-flight safety
presentation, and read the safety card found in the back pockets of plane seats. While they might not be exciting to go through,
they will provide valuable information that could save your life. Decide what plane exits you will use. When you are on the plane, look around for
the exit that is closest to your seat and find a backup exit to use as well. Count the number of rows to these exits. This will help you find your way out if smoke
or darkness in an emergency situation makes it difficult to see what is around you. Better yet, choose a seat as close to an exit
as possible. One article recommends following The 5 Row
Rule, which states that “Your chances of surviving a plane crash are much greater if
your seat is within five rows of an exit.” 3. Seat belts and other safety measures matter. Learn how to use your seat belt properly before
there is an emergency. It is especially important to learn how to
loosen your seat belt quickly so that you don’t get stuck in your seat after a plane
crash. You should also keep your seat belt on whenever
you sit down, including when you’re sleeping. Fasten it tightly because, according to one
source, “Every centimeter of slack in the belt triples the g-force you’ll experience
in a crash.” Keep in mind that both seat belts and the
bracing techniques outlined in pre-flight safety presentations reduce injuries and save
lives. Consider these statistics from a recent Boeing
study: In a 2015 crash simulation, Boeing found that
passengers who both wore their seat belts and assumed a brace position (feet flat, head
cradled against their knees or the seat in front of them if possible) were likeliest
to survive a crash. Seat-belted fliers who did not brace suffered
serious head injuries, and those with no seat belts or bracing were more likely to die on
impact. 4. Stay informed and aware. Planes are filled with different noises and
distractions. It can be hard to pay attention to your surroundings
if the young woman in the seat next to you won’t stop chatting about her undying love
for Justin Bieber, and a screaming brat is kicking the back of your seat. If you can’t be alert during the entire
flight, consider following the “plus three, minus eight rule.” One source describes this rule as follows: The plus three, minus eight rule refers to
the fact that eighty percent of all plane crashes occur during takeoff and landing – the
first three minutes and final eight minutes of the flight, respectively. Remain aware and alert during this time – don’t
read or otherwise distract yourself. . . . In the event of an actual emergency, pay attention
to the flight crew and follow their instructions. However, be prepared to think for yourself
if they are unable to give directions. You should also be prepared for the possibility
that listening to the flight crew might be difficult to do in the chaos of an emergency. Some passengers may not pay attention to the
flight crew because they are trying to help other passengers around them, while others
are screaming and crying because they are scared. Loud noises coming from damaged parts of the
plane can also make it difficult for you and other passengers to hear the pilot or flight
attendants over the PA system. In addition, resist participating in another
all too common scenario played out during airplane accidents. If passengers think the plane is going to
crash, some of them will give up trying to save themselves. They will tune out everything else around
them and focus on sending a final message to family and friends. This is what happened on Southwest Airlines
Flight 1380. One of the plane’s engines broke in midair
and a piece of it hit one of the plane windows. According to one report, the passengers’
“minds raced to how they could say goodbye to loved ones” when they thought the plane
was going to crash. A passenger interviewed by CNN named Rev.
Timothy Bourman did not even put on the oxygen mask that dropped down. As the plane descended, he thought about his
three daughters and how he “wanted to send them a note ‘from the grave.’” Don’t forget that the survival rate for
plane accident victims is 96%. With the exception of one fatality, all of
the passengers on Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 survived, and most likely you will too,
especially if you don’t give up doing what you can to stay alive. 5. Save yourself, not your stuff. Don’t waste your time trying to save your
belongings in the event of a plane crash. Your life is more important than your luggage,
and you literally won’t have much time to save yourself in a post-crash scenario. You may have as little as 90 seconds to exit
from a wrecked plane if it catches on fire. One source notes that within that time period
“a burning ‘airplane cabin can reach temperatures that will melt human skin.’” Instead of worrying about your bags, think
about how you will handle flames, smoke, and fumes. Try to protect your nose and mouth with a
cloth if you have one. Another danger is that the plane may explode
shortly after the crash, so you have to move far enough away from the plane so that you
will not be injured by it if it does. However, you want to stay in the area of the
accident so that rescuers can see you. So, do you have any other suggestions about
how to survive a plane crash? Let us know in the comments! Also, be sure to check out our other video
called Some of the most evil leaders in the history of mankind! Thanks for watching, and, as always, don’t
forget to like, share, and subscribe. See you next time!
