Lesson is Survival

Grateful for lesson in survival


By Chase Binder For the Monitor

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The images of USAirways Flight 1549 floating on the Hudson on Jan. 15 were real shockers for Bud and me. First, we've been flying USAirways almost exclusively for the past 15 years or so. We're accustomed to seeing their planes on the tarmac or in the air - not in the water. Second, we've always assumed that if our plane went down, we'd be . . . well, toast. But Flight 1549's successful water landing got me thinking. If survival is possible, maybe we should know a bit more about increasing our odds.

Assume survival: If you look at the stats, flying is the safest way to travel. Of course it's also the scariest way to travel. You know, the whole thing about being stuffed in a pressurized aluminum tube flying 6 miles above the earth at 500 mph. But the numbers don't lie - your chances of dying in a plane crash are about 1 in 10 million. In fact, according to government statistics, 76.6 percent of people involved in the most serious plane crashes survive, and the survival rate zooms to 95 percent when all plane crashes are included. Want proof? Faa.gov has a fascinating section of accident/incident data, complete with stunning photos, lessons learned and more. So, assume you can survive and plan accordingly. It's part attitude and part planning.

Before you board: Can selecting the right seat help assure your survival? Perhaps. Statistics show that passengers in the rear third of the plane have higher survival rates than those in the front. But it depends on the type of crash - an unpredictable element. What you can predict is that you'll need to get out of the aircraft, fast! One British researcher found that passengers seated within five rows of an exit were most often among survivors. So, before selecting your seats, locate your aircraft seating plan (seatguru.com is the best source if your booking website doesn't provide it). Look for exit rows and go for the aisle seats instead of the windows for easy egress. The numbers also show that fire and smoke are lethal hazards, so try and wear clothes made of natural fibers. Man-made fibers can melt to your skin. Visit wikihow.com/Survive-a-Plane-Crash for more details.

Be alert: During a network interview, one of the Flight 1549 passengers admitted she was unprepared - and she is a frequent flyer who logs 100,000-plus miles a year in the air. The point hit home. Bud and I have flown so often that we tune out the flight attendants and rarely bother with the safety card - big mistake! It is vital to know where the exits are, how to find your life jacket and how to work the oxygen masks. It is vital to know the brace position: head down and forward, protected by folded arms braced against the seat in front of you. Your legs should be extended out in front of you - tucking them underneath your seat can mean two broken legs and significantly diminished chances of getting out. Your seat belt can literally save your life - but only if it's buckled tight and low. And after reading the stats on the most dangerous portions of a flight (take-offs and landings, with a fairly hefty edge to take-offs), I am now going to listen carefully, keep my shoes on and remain alert and focused for the first eight to 10 minutes. Once we reach cruising altitude, I'll relax - but still keep my seat belt snug.

Will I forget all this by the next time we fly? Perhaps I'll tuck this column in my suitcase, just to jog my memory when I start packing. How about you?