You Can Survive an Airplane Crash: Prepare for the Landing

Believe it or not, people do survive airplane crashes. You may not be able to control that your airplane is going down, but you can prepare for landing. Know what to do after the crash. What happens once you are on the ground is critical to whether or not you will stay alive after you've survived the landing.

How to Dress for Safety Success
You may need to dress a certain way for business, but you can still bring certain clothing to prepare you for an unsafe situation. When getting dressed, think about sliding down the airplane's escape slides or the potential for fire or other escape conditions. Follow these tips:

• Wear natural fibers such as cotton, wool, and leather -- synthetics, including your hosiery, can melt with intense heat
• Dress comfortably
• Cover your body with long sleeves and long pants
• Avoid sandals and high heeled shoes, wearing something both easy to remove at screening stations and sturdy

Before Take-Off

• Ask for an aisle seat or the window seat next to an emergency exit, preferably in the back half of the plane
• Place heavy items below the seat, not in the overhead bins
• Buckle and unbuckle your seat belt a few times to make sure it works properly, then leave it buckled for the rest of the trip
• Listen and watch the pre-flight safety presentation
• Note the closest emergency exit, counting the number of rows between you and it; do the same for the second closest exit
• Read the safety card, noting how to use the oxygen masks and any other equipment

Crash Preparation
Your worst fear is confirmed -- your plane is crashing. But you can survive.  Stay calm, then take these steps:

• Get rid of sharp things in your pockets and take off sharp accessories, such as eyeglasses and high-heeled shoes
• Put on a jacket if it will be cold outdoors
• Wet a cloth with most any liquid -- you can use it to cover your mouth and nose in smoke and fire
• Tighten your seat belt and make sure your seat back is upright
• Cross your arms over your calves, keep your legs forward against the seat in front of you, and cover your head with a pillow or other material

You Survived the Crash
The plane has crash-landed and you are still alive. Don't wait long for instructions from flight staff -- you must get out of the plane. Continue to stay calm, then:

• Get up once the plane has stopped
• Keep your hands free by taking nothing
• Lower your head if there is smoke
• Go over the backs of the seats if the aisle is blocked
• No pushing other passengers
• Don't open an emergency exit if you see flames outside the window -- go to the exit on the other side of the plane, if needed

Survival
Surviving after you've hit the ground means not waiting for help that may not arrive. Take responsibility for your own safety and act quickly -- you are your best bet.