I watched an episode of the TV show “How Not to Die” the other night which dealt with air, sea and automobile transportation perils. Chris Ryan, the show’s host made great points about airline passengers who risk their lives and the lives of others in the event of an airplane crash.
First and foremost are those who think they know it all and read the paper (or talk, or sleep) during the safety announcements delivered prior to departure. I hate those people with a passion! They’re arrogant and/or stupid in the extreme, and apparently do not appreciate the fact that a dark, smoke-filled cabin would be difficult to exit even with the proper information in mind.
Mr. Ryan also commented on the dangers posed by women who wear stilletto-healed shoes while flying. In the event of an accident, they are hobbled by their shoes and may block others’ egress. Moreover those things are sharp objects. I personally always make a point to wear shoes in which I could easily run if the need arose.
I also always peruse the safety card stowed in the seat back pocket, and know exactly how many rows I am seated from my closest exit.
What Mr. Ryan didn’t mention is the need to exit without trying to take one’s personal belongings, as one woman aboard the Air France crash in Toronto admitted trying to do while discussing the accident on an episode of “Mayday”. It’s bad enough that some passengers impede other passengers’ movement from window and center-aisle seats by stowing over-sized bags under the seat in front of them (about which flight attendants often make no comment), without endangering the lives of others by trying to save their laptops in the event of an accident.
Perhaps because I worked for 20 years in the aviation industry as an air traffic controller, I’m very aware of safety concerns while flying. I would love to see the airlines force staff to ensure passengers remain silent during safety demonstrations – and all other announcements.
Last but not least, I wish Chris Ryan had mentioned those female airline passengers who’ve poured on a bottle of perfume and then cause respiratory distress in other passengers. Those women should know that if they do not wish to die, they shouldn’t sit next to me.
[tags]How Not to Die, Chris Ryan, plane crash, airline, airplane, safety, survival[/tags]
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