Put it simply, in my opinion, if you believe that the safety announcement prepares passengers fully for emergencies you are a fool.
Of course the simple briefings cannot properly prepare the simple flying public adequately even for the relatively uneventful emergencies. But, SLF can listen, read the briefing card and THINK how they might react to each of the possible emergencies mentioned. It is not difficult.
1. Know how to fasten and unfasten a seatbelt - simple but how many people per flight actually have to be shown or have to ask?
2. Understand where the emergency exits are and how they operate - different on each aircraft and sometimes at each exit. Where is the nearest exit to you and what type is it? Who is sitting nearest and do they look like they will be able to react quicky in an emergency ( This is something cabin crew assess - who looks like they know what's going on and will be able to help in emergency?) What will you do if you see an exit is blocked by fire or is unavailable after a landing on water? Who is next to you? Do they look as if they have understood or listened to the briefing? You have, on average 90 seconds to make a safe exit in an emergency evacuation.
3. Where is your lifejacket - how do you put it on and when do you inflate ? Easy if you are standing in an aisle and have done it hunderd of times before but not if you are seated, possibly with only emergency lighting and smoke in the cabin. Think your way through the various steps and consider what might hinder you. Can you really tie a double bow at the side if you weigh 18 stone and are in the middle seat and haven't seen you feet since 1986?
4. When would O2 masks deploy? what does this mean? What do you do? who is sitting next to you? How serious would it be if there is a depressurisation? It happens infrequently - but does happen, hence the briefing and safety equipemnt
All the equipment and breifing is provided for pax safety, is simple to use properly and will save lives.
If you don't know how to use it you are the
fool and if you don't understand
ASK!
I don't imagine that P haddow went all the way to the frozen wastes with some sfety equipment and a briefing card on the basis that he would get a warning announcement and additional breifing if he needed to use it - just in case he wasn't actually paying much attention when it didn't really matter! - or maybe he did, seeing as such an intrepid explorer he seems not to have been able to locate his own gratitude to the crew and staff at Ryanair.