Another fear of some passengers is the threat of a crash. However, crashes rarely occur. Over 10,000 flights occur each day across the United States, with crashes only occurring maybe once a year, if that .Your overall threat of being in an airplane crash, in my opinion, is less than being struck by lightning.
Even if you did get in a crash situation, airplanes are built to resist breakage and there are things you can do to protect yourself. Most of these are discussed in the safety briefing before the flight. You know, the one you never listen to? This speech could save your life. The FAA mandates that Flight Attendants provide this information to you before the flight is conducted to ensure that each passenger is effectivly briefed on flight safety precautions. A sample of a video briefing can be seen in the Youtube video, this one being more of a comedy aboard Southwest Airlines. This flight attendant decided to rap the in-flight safety briefing!
Now some of the things mentioned in that safety briefing can save your life. The mention on all bags must be stored either in the carry on or under your seat is to protect you in case of a crash. The impact would cause the bags to become projectiles that could impact you and harm you upon collision. The emergency doors mentioned are seats which have a little more leg room for one purpose, to let people use the door to your left or right to escape over the wings in the event of an evacuation. Most airplanes have at least 4 doors, one in the front, one over each wing, and one in the rear of the airplane.
So those are some of the things mentioned before you take off that relate to safety in a crash, but what do you do as your plane has a problem and the flight crew mentions the word "Brace for Impact!" There are six basic crash positions which come in play while onboard an airplane. The Youtube video I've linked help show some of these.
As it notes, crash positions "reduce flailing during an impact and reduce secondary impact," which in case limits head movement in a crash. Much research has been done on the best positions for a passenger to sit in during a crash, even per cabin. For example, in coach, like most people fly, the best thing to do is to hold onto the seat in front of you and if possible keep head below the seat top to protect yourself from any falling debris.The precautions in place are there to do one thing, to save your life. Most people will NEVER have to assume the crash position, but knowing how and what to do may save your life.
Curtis, Todd. "The Six Basic Aircraft Crash Positions." Youtube. Youtube. 10 Dec. 2007. Web. 4 Nov. 2011.
The Youtube Video by Todd Curtis was able to provide me with the diagrams I needed to show the crash positions to my viewers regarding airplane crash safety. It discusses six different crash positions that passengers can take to brace themselves in the event of an incident onboard an airplane.
The video is a good source to include since it lists more than one crash position and is diagrams the positions in a visual form. By showing a visual, a reader or viewer is able to picture themselves it the situation and remember a visual of what should be done instead of just words which can confuse someone.
reggiep08v2. "Rapping Flight Attendant from Southwest Airlines." Youtube .Youtube. 5 Nov. 2009. Web.
4 Nov. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9lZV_828OA&feature=related>
This Youtube video features a rapping flight attendant on Southwest Airlines. The Southwest flight attendant, David Holmes decides to change it up a bit instead of the usual boring safety briefing by asking the passengers to get involved and get a beat for him to rap the safety briefing out to.
I decided to include this more humorous view of a safety briefing to show my readers a briefing that they may remember. The information included in a briefing can save lives, and most people just ignore it. By switching it up, this Southwest flight attendant could save lives in the unlikely event of a crash.
denon2500. "QANTAS Airbus A380-800 Safety Card inside." 17 June 2009. Online image. Flickr. 4 Nov.
This image includes a safety briefing card that is included on a Quantas Airbus A380-800 series aircraft. In the safety briefing card, it shows the locations of the emergency exit doors, how to put on a life vest, and what to do in case of a loss of cabin pressure.
I included this image in my blog since it relates to my point of airplane emergency exits. It shows that there are at least four exit doors on the aircraft and where they are located. By showing the information, it goes to prove that aircraft safety briefings can save lives.
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