We spend so much time out in the world, it is important to know what to do if there is an emergency when we are far from the comforts of home. Whether we are on a road trip, taking a train across the country, flying to another country, or relaxing on a cruise ship, things can happen, and the more we are prepared in advance, the better chances we have of surviving.
AUTOMOBILES
Imagine how many people are out on the roadways on any given day or night—it is mind-boggling. Although most of our trips pass without incident, now and then there is an accident or mechanical issue that can send us into a panic if we don’t know how to react and respond.
IF YOUR CAR BREAKS DOWN
Before you hit the road, especially for longer trips, make sure your vehicle is in good operating condition by checking all fluid levels, lights, signal lights, belts, hoses, and windshield wipers.
Fill tires to the correct level as dictated in your car’s operations manual.
Have a full tank of gas.
Keep a spare tire in the rear or trunk of the vehicle.
Make sure seat belts are in good working order.
Make sure the registration and insurance information is in the glove compartment, along with a number to call for roadside service in an emergency.
If you have a breakdown and you cannot get the car running again, get the car over to the side of the road safely, and put on your hazard lights.
Call roadside service for help. Many highways and freeways have call boxes if you don’t have a cell phone. Be sure to give them as exact a location as you can.
Do not get out of the car and stand outside waiting if you are on the highway or freeway, as this is how many people are killed by passing cars. Do not assume people are paying attention!
IN A MINOR ACCIDENT
Do not leave the scene of the accident, as most state laws require you to stop. You can be charged with hit-and-run if someone you hit is injured, and even in an accident where you are not at fault.
Make sure everyone involved is fine, and move the cars off the roadway. Turn on hazard lights on both cars.
Be civil. Everyone makes mistakes.
Exchange insurance information with the other driver, and be civil.
Take photos with cell phone cameras of damage to both cars to document the damage at the time of the accident.
If you are in a major car accident, you must file a police report, even if there were no injuries. Follow police instructions to the letter.
File a police report just to be safe and avoid someone coming back months later claiming they were severely injured or that their car was further damaged.
IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT
Do all of the above, but focus on checking to make sure everyone is fine. If anyone needs medical attention, call 911 and begin giving any first aid you are capable of.
You must file a police report in a major accident, especially if there were injuries.
Cooperate with the police, and tell the truth. Often they are trained to tell who hit whom from damage location and marks on the vehicles. Do not admit fault, even if you think it was your fault, as the other driver may also have been at fault. The insurance companies involved declare fault.
Do not sign anything unless it is a police report or insurance company paperwork.
Stay calm and do not get involved in blame games and fighting, as this can escalate into a violent altercation. Document the damage, and follow police instructions on what to do next.
BRAKE FAILURE
One of the scariest things that can happen to a driver is to lose your breaks. Keeping up on maintenance is important, but if it does happen:
Stay calm and put on hazard lights to let other drivers know there is a problem.
If the brakes are not working, check to make sure there is nothing like a plastic water bottle lodged under the brake pedal.
Downshift the car to low gear, and reduce speed, but do it in stages.
If your car has an ABS, or anti-lock breaking system, press hard on the brake pedal. After a few seconds the brakes should begin to work. If you have an older car with no ABS, pump the brake pedal.
Move the car to the side of the road as you slow speed.
Put on your parking brake to help you reduce speed.
Look for a place where there is a lot of gravel, sand, or even grass to help slow the car down.
A small hill or incline can also help slow down the car and get speed low enough to bring it to a stop. You can even steer towards bushes or hedges to drive into, but beware of driving into a large tree, which can be fatal.
Do not put the car in reverse to slow down.
Do not put the car in park to slow down.
Once you are safely stopped, call for help and take the car to have the brakes fixed immediately. Don’t assume it was a “one-time” thing.
STEERING FAILURE
Although power steering failure is rare with today’s vehicles, it can happen. Follow the same rules as above, but realize that you will have greater and greater difficulty steering the wheel and getting it to turn as the power steering system fails. Use what strength you can to turn the wheel enough to get yourself off the road and stop the car.
DRIVING IN RAIN, SNOW, AND ICE
So you are driving on an icy road and your car begins to skid. What do you do? Don’t panic! Skidding can occur when you over-steer and the front wheels begin to turn, but the back wheels spin out, causing the back end of the car to fishtail. A skid can also occur when you under-steer and the car makes a wide turn, usually on wet pavement. The car can also slide side to side in a skid. If you have your foot on the brake, let up slowly.
If your foot is on the gas pedal, take your foot off the gas, and steer in the direction you wish the wheels to go, not the direction of the skid.
If you have standard brakes, pump the brakes gently as you steer the car.
If you have ABS brakes, do not pump. Apply steady pressure to the brakes.
If your car hydroplanes after driving through a puddle of water, you will lose both tire traction and your ability to steer the vehicle. Once you feel your tires have regained traction on the pavement, there will be a small jolt forward in the direction you are steering, but don’t be alarmed. Follow the above rules and hope that others are aware of your car’s situation and can assist in getting out of your way.
STUCK!
If your car gets stuck in mud or snow, do not spin the wheels, as this will dig you in deeper.
Try turning the wheels from side to side a few times to dislodge mud and snow.
Step lightly on the gas pedal, and try to ease the car out of the rut.
If you have to, use a shovel or your hands to clear mud and snow away from the tires, and use sand, cat litter, or even salt in the path of the wheels to assist them with traction.
You can try to rock the vehicle loose by shifting from forward to reverse gear and tapping on the gas as you do, but this can cause damage to your transmission, so use that as a last-ditch effort.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CAR IS SINKING
If your car becomes submerged in water, you must take steps to help yourself because help may not find you, especially if there is no one around to call 911. Within thirty to sixty seconds, water can reach the top of your windows, and you could drown in the time it would take you to place a call. You must act fast!
Stay calm and focused. Every second counts.
Undo your seat belt first.
If there are other passengers such as children, undo their seat belts if they haven’t done so.
Open the window as soon as you hit the water. Do not try to open the door and waste time fighting the pressure of the water. Focus on the windows. The car’s electrical system should be working for two to three minutes after being in water, so try opening them with the button on the side of the door first, then try manually.
It takes about one to two minutes for a car to fill with water. Move fast, but stay calm. Breathe normally until the water hits chin level, then hold your breath while making your escape.
Break a window if you have to, and escape through the open window. You can try ripping off the seat headrest to break the window, or keep something in the car such as a tire iron or crowbar.
Swim to the surface and get to land, then call for help. If it is night, look for the light in the water, and swim towards it, or follow the direction of any bubbles in the water, as that will be the surface.
If you’re in an car accident and find yourself in the water, the priority is to take off your seatbelt, open the door before you are too deep (or break the window), and get everyone to shore.
If you or someone else cannot swim, use what objects you can to push yourself up to the surface, including getting on top of the car.
If you have an infant, you will have to carry the infant as you escape.
Try to quickly remove any heavy clothing you may be wearing, so you don’t sink.
Please note that you can escape through the car doors under certain circumstances, such as before the entire car is immersed, if you can open the door without wasting too much time to do so. But if the car is fully immersed, the pressure against the doors will be incredible, and you need every second to get out.
If your car is being swept away in rushing water, you may be tempted to stay inside if the water hasn’t engulfed the inside of the car, but you still need to escape as quickly as you can. The fast-moving waters may slam the car into a wall or pipe or take you into deep waters.
The steps are: remove seat belts, open the windows, get out!
PULL OVER!
Do you know exactly what to do if you are pulled over by the police? The first thing that will happen is you will see the police car behind you with its siren and lights on. Pull over to the right of the roadway, and come to a complete stop. Be sure to use your signal when pulling over, and if you feel comfortable driving to a more lighted area, do so. Sometimes, as on busy freeways, the police are interested in a car in front of you and will drive right by, but you must pull over anyway if you see the lights and hear the siren behind you.
Stay in the car until the officer approaches, but turn off your engine. Relax. You can roll down your window part of the way (don’t roll it down any further, even if they ask you to) or wait until the officer instructs you to. Being courteous and following instructions will go a long way. If it is dark out, turn on an interior light so you can see and the officer can see into the car. You may be scared, but realize that the officer may be anxious too.
Keep your hands on the wheel when the officer approaches, and keep them visible at all times afterwards.
A police officer may just be giving you a warning about a broken tail light, so don’t get belligerent ahead of time, or you may create more trouble than you needed.
Let the officer do the talking, and respond simply and directly to any questions. Do not speak first or offer information they did not ask for. If the officer tries to “trap” you with the question “Do you know why I pulled you over?” simply respond by saying, “No, I don’t.” If the officer begins to ask questions such as “Where you are going?” or “What you are doing tonight?” do not answer. If you choose to answer, do not lie. You are not obliged to give answers to these types of probing questions.
Wait to be asked for license and registration. Let the officer know you are going to open the glove box and reach in to retrieve your paperwork. Move slowly. You will not be subject to a car search unless the officer has reason to do so. This can include open bottles or cans of alcohol, the smell of pot, or a visible gun or weapon.
Depending on your state’s laws, a police officer can ask you and your passengers to get out of the car; otherwise stay inside. Getting out without being asked is looked at as an attempt to flee the scene. Officers make a visual sweep of your car the second they look inside, so if they suspect you or another passenger may be carrying a weapon or be a threat, they will make you get out of the car.
Officers can do a pat-down search if they suspect you are carrying drugs or a weapon. Check your state laws on whether this is legal or illegal. The patdown will be over your outer layer of clothing, but if they do feel a gun or object, they can reach inside clothing to retrieve it. They can also search the car at this time. All moving vehicles in the United States are subject to search if there is reasonable suspicion associated with the traffic stop. Officers are also permitted to have a K-9 dog sniff the outside of your car for explosives and drugs.
In general, police officers cannot search your cell phone without a warrant or without your consent.
If you are given a ticket, do not argue. Accept it, and leave when the officer tells you it is safe to go.
If you are arrested, make sure you do not say anything that might incriminate you. Understand your rights in your state. You can be arrested if you were driving erratically, breaking road laws, or driving a stolen car. Once the officer sees you, he can often tell by your pupils and by smelling your breath that you may need to be tested for drugs or alcohol with a field sobriety breath test. There must be probable cause for the arrest, but you can ask if you are indeed being arrested, or if you are free to go after a search. This is the most important question you can ask. Hopefully it won’t get that far, but for an officer to legally detain you, there must be probable cause that you committed, or are about to commit, a crime.
If you are interrogated without having been read your rights, they cannot legally use your answers in a court of law as evidence against you. Do not speak without a lawyer present.
Most of the time, when the police pull you over, they have a reason. With all the news stories of police brutality, and brutality against police, both sides of the equation may be fearful and on edge. The best thing you can do is follow instructions and accept responsibility if you were doing something wrong. Arguing, hitting, or threatening a police officer over a ticket is just not worth the jail time.
If you feel threatened by the officer, tell them you want to call 911 and have backup assistance. Police often wear bodycams and try to avoid scaring you, but it does happen, and it has to be considered, especially for women driving at night alone. If you feel your life is in danger, demand the officer follow you to a lighted, populated area to continue the ticketing.
Be smart. Often police hang out near bars and restaurants, knowing that people will be leaving them intoxicated. Have a designated driver. Do not swear at police or use obscene gestures, and don’t try to lose them by outdriving them. Not only can you get ticketed for speeding, but you can also be charged with resisting arrest!
If you are pulled over in your car by a police officer, do not argue with the officer. If you feel a ticket was improper, you can argue your case in traffic court.
It comes down to common sense and remaining calm and courteous. Are there bad cops? Yes. Are there bad citizens? Yes. But most of the time, you did something that warranted being pulled over, and the best thing you can do to avoid trouble is accept the warning or ticket and move on. There are police officers who use routine traffic stops as an opportunity to search the car, and you, more closely. There are police officers who enjoy arresting people even on shaky grounds, but the vast majority are doing their job and doing it correctly, aware of the growing negative public sentiment towards the bad cops that make the nightly news. The public has been trained to fear authority, but even if you are afraid, do know your rights, stand up for them courteously, and know what rights the police officer has so you can follow the rules respectfully—on both sides.
If you feel you have been violated by a police traffic stop or wrongfully arrested, contact a traffic ticket attorney in your area.
ROAD SAFETY TIPS
Some additional tips to keep you and your family safe while driving are:
Never pick up hitchhikers, even if they look “friendly.” You can assist them in calling for help if they’ve had a breakdown.
Drive with doors locked at all times.
Always have more than a quarter of a tank of gas, preferably more.
If someone bumps your vehicle, don’t get out of the car. Stay inside, and call the police if the other driver tries to engage you. This can be a very dangerous criminal scam.
When you come to a stop at a traffic light, leave enough space between your car and the car in front of you in case you need to pull away quickly.
Never allow children to go into fast-food or rest-area bathrooms alone.
Only stop at night at a well-lit and populous rest stop or fast-food joint, and keep an eye on your car.
If you have to stop your car and need emergency help, raise the hood and tie a white cloth to the antenna or door handle, and get back in the car.
If you are driving and another driver motions that your tire is flat or a light is out, wave thanks and do not get out of the car until they are gone or you can drive into a service station.
Safety Before and During a Trip
Does your house give away the fact that you are gone on vacation? Mail piled up at the door? No lights on? No car in the driveway? Criminals know exactly what to look for when someone is away.
Have your mail stopped temporarily while you are gone. Ask a friendly neighbor to take in any packages left at your door.
Keep a light on outside and inside on timers so it looks like someone is home. Do not think crooks are fooled by a porch light left on all day. Try to mimic what you would do if you were at home.
Invest in a good home alarm system.
If you leave the car for a few moments, lock the doors.
Back the car into parking spaces at night so that you can pull away fast if needed.
Stay alert in a parking garage or lot at night, and do not get into your car unless you can see there is no one nearby. Check the back seat.
If you are being followed by someone as you walk back to your car, run past the car and get help. Scream if you have to!
Carry valuables on your front, not behind you in your pocket or backpack. Keep your purse or laptop case close to your body.
Leave expensive jewelry, furs, and other items at home if they may attract the unwanted attention of criminals. This includes expensive camera equipment.
Be wary of who you talk to! Not every fellow traveler is a friend!
Always look back when leaving a restaurant or café to make sure you have not left anything valuable behind.
Avoid using a credit card at an Internet café.
Think about getting traveler’s insurance before you go. Don’t assume your health insurance covers everything on an international trip.
Know what travel warnings and advisories there are for your destination, and be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Avoid getting into an elevator alone with anyone you feel unsure of. Trust your instincts. Do not use a dark stairwell alone. Use common sense and good judgment.
HOTEL SAFETY
It is always a good idea to stay at a hotel with a good rating (and good reviews!) and to book reservations in advance rather than assume there will be vacancies. If you use something like Auto Club or a travel agent, they can steer you to the best and safest places to stay.
If traveling with children, look for hotels that have amenities such as playgrounds, play areas, pools, and media rooms. Try to avoid getting an upperstory room with a balcony, but if you do, keep the sliding doors locked that lead out onto the balcony. Larger chain hotels are more kid-friendly than expensive luxury hotels.
When you get to your hotel, carry your own luggage in, and watch for people lurking too close by when you check in.
Hotel room numbers should not be spoken aloud at the check-in desk or written on the key directly. The envelope or key sleeve will have the room number.
When you go to and from your room, be sure that no one is following you. This is especially important for women traveling alone. If someone is too close for comfort, pick up speed and move to a common area where there are other people. Do not try to get into your room quickly or you may get shoved inside with no protection.
If someone is bothering you by following you to your room, ask for a different room or for a security escort.
If you leave your room, make sure you lock the door behind you.
If you leave the room, do not hang the sign out for the maid to clean up. That is basically announcing that the room is empty. You can hang the Do Not Disturb sign to indicate the room is occupied.
If a bag or something is stolen from the room, it will most likely be a hotel staff member who stole it. Ask that the object be searched for within the hotel.
If you like to go for a morning or night run, let the front desk or hotel security know, and try to go with a buddy if you can.
Do not assume valuables are safe if left in your locked hotel room. Ask the hotel staff to put them in the hotel safe.
If someone knocks on your door, ask that they identify themselves, and look through the peephole to ensure it is room service or a friend.
Never leave ID or a passport in the room. Keep those and other important documents on you at all times or locked in the hotel safe.
Do not carry all your cash and personal items in your purse or in your back pocket or wallet. If they are stolen, you will be left with nothing. Keep some cash and important ID you don’t need in the hotel safe, and take with you only what you need at the time.
Even in the most luxurious hotels, we can forget that valuables are still valuable to someone who wants them. You can feel at home, but think of being at home with potential thieves, and don’t let down your guard just because the hotel got five stars on the best review sites. There may have been a few reviews in there by people who got ripped off. In fact, review sites are often paid money by hotels, restaurants, and other businesses to scrap bad reviews or elevate good reviews to the top, where they will be read the most. People often don’t take the time to scroll through a hundred good reviews to find the ten that say the place sucked. Businesses also pay people to write fake reviews. The best thing you can do is ask friends and colleagues where they have stayed before in a particular city and how safe it was.
TRAVEL AND VACCINES
Going abroad? Be sure to think about what vaccinations you may need at least three months before you plan to leave. Some countries may even require proof in the form of an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis. Find out in advance what the region you are visiting requires, and ask your general practitioner if they can administer the proper vaccines or direct you to a source that will. Some of the vaccines must be given well before your travel date, so don’t wait.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a great online source that will tell you what you will need, depending on where you are going are:
Traveler’s Health: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list
There are certain conditions where vaccinations may not be advisable, such as pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, or an autoimmune disease, even chemotherapy, so check with your doctor first. Too many people think they can wait until a week before their trip to get the shots they need, only to find out they won’t be able to leave if they haven’t been inoculated for the required period of time per vaccine type.
Make sure you are up on your vaccinations when you travel abroad. You can visit the CDC’s website for information on which vaccines are required depending on your destination.
AIRPLANE SAFETY
Traveling by plane safely begins at the airport. You want to make sure that your luggage is locked and tagged, but think about using an office address instead of a home address. Once your baggage is checked, it is out of your hands, so secure it as best you can, and follow all airport rules, or risk having your luggage opened and left behind.
Going through security, listen to instructions and follow them. Keep calm, and do what you are told to avoid problems. Make sure you packed your liquid items properly ahead of time according to the current rules enforced by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which can be found on its website: www.tsa.gov. Keep an eye on the items you place in the security bins as you go through the detectors. If you are subjected to a physical search, don’t complain or resist, as it will possibly end up in your being detained and missing your flight.
Report any unattended baggage you see at the airport to security. Also report anyone carrying a firearm. If someone asks you to take an item on board the plane for them, report them immediately, and do not take the bag.
Be careful entering airport bathrooms. You may want to take your carry-on into the stall with you, if it will fit, to avoid having it stolen.
Once you are on the plane, stow your carry-on close overhead, and keep with you only what is allowed by the airline. Keep purses close to your body or directly under your seat, with your foot over the strap to keep it from sliding away or being grabbed. Be sure nothing you stash under your seat might trip you if you need to make a fast exit in an emergency. Also be aware that items under your seat can turn into deadly projectiles in a crash, so make sure they are firmly secured.
Don’t be one of those pesky travelers who insist on using electronics when told not to. Yes, they can interfere with plan signaling devices in the cockpit. Wait until you are told it is okay to use them. Respect other passengers and use headphones when listening to music or a movie, especially at night when others may be sleeping.
Most travelers don’t listen to the flight attendants giving safety instructions, but even if you have heard them before you should pay attention!
Do you listen when the flight attendants go through their safety routine? Most flyers tune them out, but it is critical you pay attention and know where the emergency exits are, how to use the oxygen masks, and other pertinent information that could save your life! That same information will be on a card in the seat pocket in front of you. Take two minutes to review it. Don’t trade your life for a few moments of laziness.
Look around for the emergency exits, and look beneath your seat for the flotation device. Just knowing these two things can make a huge difference in an emergency.
Did you know that you can select your seats in advance? Passengers who sit in the tail end of the plane actually have a 40 percent higher survival rate than those who sit up front in the first several rows. Passengers who sit over the wings report less nausea. Do you need to use the bathroom often? Pick a seat near the restrooms, preferably the back of the plane. Choose your seat wisely!
Pay the extra money and get your baby or small child their own seat so they can be properly restrained. In the event of a crash, having a baby or toddler on your lap could lead to death.
Try to wear flat shoes and comfortable clothes while on the plane. If there is a crash, you may need a jacket to keep warm. Imagine trying to run from a plane in high heels, which, by the way, are not permitted on evacuation slides. Keep your fancy shoes in your carry-on, and opt for sneakers instead.
Always keep your seat belt on when told to. Keep it properly tightened too, so that in the event of a crash, it can keep you from flying forward. Keep your belt on while you are napping or sleeping.
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH
Try to stay as calm as you possibly can and assess the situation. Is the plane over water or land? If an impact is imminent, clear your area of things that can fly in your face and injure you. Stow all loose items safely away. Listen as the flight attendants tell you what crash position to assume. You will want your feet flat on the floor and a bit in back of your knees to best brace your legs. Keeping your legs under your seat may help avoid broken bones or injuries so you can get out of the plane quickly.
You will be told to brace your upper body and protect your head. If you don’t hear the instructions, put one hand on the back of the seat in front of you, then the other hand on top of it, interlacing fingers. Rest your forehead on top of your hands, face down. If the seat in front of you is too far, or there is no seat, bend forward and put your chest against your thighs with your head between your knees. Grab your ankles tightly.
Once the plane impacts, if in water, put on your life jacket, but do not inflate it until you are instructed to do so. Hold your breath if water is at face level, swim out, then inflate the jacket. If you inflate it in the plane, it could act against you by pushing you up into the top of the plane.
If the plane impacts the ground, or during a hard descent, oxygen masks will drop. Put yours on first before assisting anyone else, including children. Do it fast, because once the plane’s cabin has broken apart, you have about fifteen seconds to put the mask on and breathe in oxygen or risk losing consciousness.
If the plane catches fire, you need to get out. Don’t worry about luggage and purses and laptops. Get out. The only thing you should try to grab is a blanket or jacket, which you may need. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), over 60 percent of fatalities in plane crashes are from the fire and smoke and not the actual impact. Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth, and stay low to the ground as you make your way to the emergency exit. Follow instructions and exit the plane, running at least 500 feet (150 meters) to safety in case of an explosion.
Keep your eyes open at all times, because the emergency exit nearest to you may be blocked or on fire. Go to the next exit quickly. Never try to push your way over or through other passengers, as that slows down the line and can get everyone killed.
Once you are safe, treat any wounds you can on yourself and others, and wait for further instructions.
The vast majority of flights each day occur without event, or possibly with some turbulence. But too often flyers ignore the very instructions that can, in the rare event of a disaster, mean the difference between panicking and surviving.
What if your plane crashes in a cold, snowy environment? What would you do to survive the crash and the elements? Because of your location, it may take rescuers a while to find where the plane went down and get help to you. Once you are free from the crash, get away from the plane in case the fuel ignites, causing an explosion. Hopefully, any fire or explosion will be seen by rescuers in planes or on foot. Once the crash site seems safe, stay near it, because that is where rescuers will go first, and you want to be there when they show up.
Use food and water from inside the plane to survive on. You can also melt snow for water. Take shelter under a large piece of fuselage, and look around for blankets and other coverings you can use for warmth.
If you are there for a while and realize you may need to go get help, assess your surroundings, and head downhill if on a mountainside, or look for signs of civilization such as fireplace smoke. Listen for sounds of far-off traffic and head towards it. Beware of the possibility of avalanches, extreme cold and hypothermia, and falling on ice. Never leave the crash site at night, and use flares from the plane’s emergency kits or any means you have of making a fire to signal rescuers.
Huddle together for warmth with other passengers. This is a time for everyone to work together to survive the elements until help arrives. Share food and water and body heat, and pay special attention to the needs of the elderly, children, and pets in the cargo hold. Don’t forget that the luggage can provide ample clothing and jackets for warmth. People may at first be angry at having their clothing appropriated, but in a do-or-die situation they will understand why it is necessary.
Many of the same rules apply to a plane crashing in a desert or forested area, although in a forest you may have more access to food and water sources and the shelter of overhead trees. The desert will be unforgiving during the day, so this is one instance where it will be better to move away from the crash site in the early morning or twilight hours. Pay attention to the ground: snakes and scorpions will be under foot. If there are any roads nearby, watch for passing cars and make signs if you can, letting them know to call police. Indicate with an arrow where the plane crash site is located. Don’t expect people to stop and take you to the next town, but you can at least ask them to call 911.
In a plane crash, the decision to stay with the wreckage is usually best, because rescuers will know where the plane went down, and help will be forthcoming. But if you must leave the area, be smart about it, go in groups, and take what food and water and protection against the elements you can carry between you.
BOATING/CRUISE SHIP SAFETY
Taking a cruise anytime soon? Like planes, cruise ships offer safety instructions that are often overlooked in the excitement of getting out on the water. On any given day, there are hundreds of cruise ships traveling the oceans and seas, and very few of them experience an emergency situation. But it does happen.
The biggest issue on a cruise is sickness, whether motion sickness or norovirus. While motion sickness can be addressed with some type of medication, an outbreak of norovirus can have hundreds of passengers sick within a day or two. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says your chances are slim of getting this debilitating stomach virus that can cause severe diarrhea, but it does happen, and we hear about it in the news media quite regularly, even if the outbreak involves just a handful of passengers.
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea requires that all cruise ships instruct passengers on ship safety within twenty-four hours of departure from port.
Norovirus and food poisoning may be hard to avoid completely, but washing hands regularly with soap and water, being careful not to touch the eyes, nose, or mouth, and staying out of contact with sick passengers can help you stay well.
Now and then we hear about some type of engine or mechanical failure on a cruise ship, but be assured that if this happens, there will be help on the way. The best thing to do is listen to the instructions of the crew in any situation.
Know the emergency rules and drill. Listen when the crew gives the safety address, and know what the evacuation plan is should something happen.
Make sure your passport and documents are with you, and use the same common sense as you would in a hotel, not leaving valuables in your room. The ship will have a safe for valuables.
Scan and email your important documents to yourself so you have a backup copy.
Have travel insurance before you board, and book when the weather is likely to be at its best.
Keep any prescription meds on your person in case you need them and are locked out of your room or blocked from reaching it.
Know where the ship’s medical quarters are.
Know where your life jackets are located.
Be wary when going off the ship at a port or on a tour, and stay with a group if you can. Stay away from prohibited areas, and try not to attract unwanted attention, especially being careful to not carry expensive cameras and flashy jewelry.
Always ask your cruise director any questions you have, and don’t guess, including what parts of a particular city to avoid.
In the event that your ship needs to be evacuated, stay calm. Follow the crew’s instructions on how to put on your life jacket and disembark quickly. Don’t rush back to your room to grab valuables; it isn’t worth risking your life if the ship is sinking or on fire.
Cruises can be a tremendously relaxing way to see the world and enjoy good food, views, and company. You may want to ask friends and check review sites to see which cruise lines have the best reputation for safety and customer satisfaction.
IF YOU ARE THE BOATER
Follow boating safety just as you would if you were in a car. Take a basic boating course to understand the rules of the waterways and how to control your boat on calm and stormy waters.
Check to see that your boat is in good mechanical working condition before you take it out and that you have adequate fuel.
Be sure to have extra food, water, and medical supplies on board, even on a short trip.
Make sure you have the correct, valid boating license/permits needed in your area.
Try to arrange boating trips during good weather, and watch the forecasts.
Have a backup person who can handle the boat if you should fall ill or become incapacitated.
Have life jackets for all passengers, and make sure they know how to use them.
If you have an accident or emergency, report it and radio for help immediately.
Whether you take a subway or a train, like millions of other passengers, you probably don’t think too much about something going wrong. But there are basics to rail safety just as there are with a plane or a boat. Obviously, you want to stay off the tracks and far enough away, and thankfully the platforms are marked to assist you. Trains travel at amazing speeds, even when slowing into a station, so be sure to keep children away from the tracks at all times. An approaching 200-ton train is always coming faster than you visually guess it is, so don’t take chances with safety. Trains cannot slam on their brakes and stop as easily as a car, and they have the right of way 100 percent of the time!
Never lean over a platform to see if the train is coming, and if you drop something, leave it or ask a police officer or station personnel to fetch it for you.
Walk on platforms. Running increases the risk of tripping and possibly going down onto the tracks.
One of the biggest issues at subway and train stations and on platforms is crime, so be alert, keep your valuables close to your body, and hold onto luggage until it is time to load it in the cargo areas. After hours, wait for the train in the designated wait areas and not off hiding in the shadows.
Be extra vigilant when traveling the subways, especially at night. Be aware of your surroundings, get off the cell phone, and keep your possessions close to you.
Try not to use the subway late at night, and if you are alone and feel uncomfortable, find a police officer or station personnel to stay with you until the train arrives. Also be aware of getting into a train car alone or with someone you feel anxious about. Trust your instincts. Better to wait for a more crowded car than be sorry.
Avoid napping on the train, but if you must sleep, keep your purse and valuables close to your body and strapped or tied tightly on to avoid pickpockets and thieves.
As the train leaves the station, stay away from closing doors to avoid getting something trapped in them.
If you are traveling with children, understand that they may take longer to walk to the train, get on and off the train, and settle in for the ride, and be aware and patient. Try not to sit next to doors where a child may run out or get caught. Go over emergency and bathroom signs with your kids so they know what to do if you are incapacitated. Locate emergency exits together, and make a game out of finding the first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and other emergency supplies.
Go over your route ahead of time with your group of travelers in the event you get separated. Write down the route for children so they can show a station attendant which trains they need to take if you are not able to be in communication via cell phones. Have a plan in case a child accidentally gets stuck on the train and must go to the next station. Have them get off the train and sit on the first platform bench they see or alert station personnel until you can get to them.
Never walk or run around or in front of crossing areas unless the train is at a full stop and passengers are disembarking. Listen for whistles and bells to alert you that the train is getting ready to move. Even if the track is empty at the time, you could decide to cross, get stuck, and be sorry when the oncoming train cannot brake in time. Cross only on designated crossing paths or tracks, and do so after the train has left the station if possible.
Use the station’s “customer assistance intercom” if you need help for any reason or feel unsafe.
Only use the emergency cord in an actual emergency, such as seeing someone being dragged in a closed train door. Do not use the cord if you or someone else becomes ill or you accidentally miss your stop while texting a friend. Wait until the train is at the next station, and get off then.
WHERE SHOULD I SIT?
On any form of public transportation, there are safer seats than others. Whether a bus, plane, or train, the seats next to emergency exits are always a better choice than a main exit. If something happens, you will be able to get out quickly before a stampede of panicked passengers. Tables on a train or bus may seem like a great place to set up your laptop and work, but keep in mind that these tables can be deadly if the vehicle gets into a collision and the table is pushed into your torso as a result. You may choose aisle seats near the emergency exits instead, or even a main exit where you think you can be one of the first out the door. In long trains, you want to sit nearer the rear of the line of cars, but avoid the last two cars. Sticking to a middle car is safest, as the front and rear cars will sustain the most damage from any kind of collision.
Sitting in the back of a bus near the large rear window can also provide you with an exit if you need it, but be ready to break the window, and be careful of passing traffic when you get out.
In a plane, seats over the wing may be the strongest and most stable in a crash, but they have the disadvantage of being closer to the fuel tanks. The front of a plane often is the most comfortable, but will sustain the most damage during impact, so it’s better to sit in the back and put up with a little extra turbulence and noise. Seek safety over comfort in any transport system.
