Most flights are uneventful, with the worst experiences being an occupied lavatory or unexpected turbulence. Emergencies can happen, however, and aircraft passengers need to be prepared to react quickly and efficiently. In an emergency, knowing the proper evacuation procedures for your flight can mean the difference between safely concluding your trip or reaching a different final destination.
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Every airline has its own evacuation procedures. Paying attention to the safety briefing at the start of every flight is essential. These safety demonstrations cover important information, such as emergency exit locations and using oxygen masks and life vests. Each seat pocket usually has safety information cards, which provide information such as how to operate emergency doors and evacuation routes depending on the circumstances.
Plan your path to the nearest emergency exit and alternate exits if your primary route is blocked. Seasoned air travelers count the rows from their seats to the intended exit, providing a frame of reference if smoke or darkness hinders visibility. If you are unsure about any aspect of safety equipment operation or have special concerns, speak to a crew member.
Trust the Process
Flight attendants are not just in-flight drink and snack servers. They are the primary authority in an emergency evacuation. Crew members are trained to handle emergencies, so it is vitally important to follow their instructions. Federal and international regulatory bodies enforce aircraft evacuation procedures designed to ensure passenger safety.
Aircraft manufacturers and airline operators must comply with minimum safety evacuation standards to ensure that passengers and crew can safely evacuate in an emergency. Aircraft must undergo extensive testing before being certified for passenger service to demonstrate that they can meet the standards and let the crew conduct evacuations within a specified time frame.
If you are ever in an emergency evacuation from an aircraft, trust the procedures that professionals have developed for your safety.
Leave Your Stuff Behind
Emergency aircraft evacuations may require passengers to depart the aircraft with controlled quickness to ensure their survival. Unfortunately, slowed evacuations have caused some documented fatalities. Passengers attempting to retrieve their belongings were the direct cause of some delays. Your bags, clothes, phone, and ID are never worth it.
When your life and that of others is on the line, leave your stuff behind. You can always replace material items. Encourage other passengers to do the same if they are caught in a panic and try to retrieve their carry-on items. If you panic, you endanger yourself and diminish your capacity to help others. The energy you would expend attempting to retain personal items is better spent in more selfless actions, such as helping your fellow passengers exit to safety.
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