I was seated next to a couple of 18-year-old females who were busy comparing fashion notes and vacation schedules. After we became airborne, the young lady next to me noticed the Emergency Management trade periodical I was reading and asked if I was a cop. I described my positions with the Fire Department and Emergency Management.
I then posed a question to her: "Would you please close your eyes and tell me how to open that emergency exit door?"
At first, she looked at me in astonishment and then complied. After just a few seconds, she admitted she could not remember how to properly open the door, nor did she know how heavy the door was. I asked her friend the same question, but by that time, she had looked at the door and was reading the instructions to me.
Having their attention, I explained what happens when a plane crashes and described the emergency procedures to take immediately after the plane comes to rest.
I then explained how investigators have found bodies stacked next to emergency exits with the door still intact. I admit I placed the icing on a little thick, but I was trying to drive home my point of the seriousness of sitting in these aisles.
By now, I had the attention of most of the folks around us as well. I explained how exiting an aircraft during an emergency is critical, but knowing exactly when to egress is more important.
An older gentlemen sitting next to me replied, "Well, the flight attendant would be there to assist!"
I stated that these individuals may be busy with other duties or could possibly even perish during an emergency.
"Never thought of that," he said.
My goal during this "lecture" was never to scare the passengers, but to educate them about the responsibility that goes along with sitting in these seats.
We can learn a great deal from these young ladies. They chose the seats for comfort never realizing the responsibility that comes with that choice.
As emergency managers and first responders, we must continue to educate the public over preparedness issues. These two young ladies were on vacation with their minds focused on relaxation - never realizing, or imagining, what could have happened.
As we left the aircraft, a sweet little senior citizen approached me, gave me a hug and said, "Thank you for protecting us."
I just smiled and hugged back.
Are we really prepared for disasters, or do we just want more legroom?
Ed Kostiuk is an Oklahoma Certified Emergency Manager with the Cashion, Okla., Fire Department.
