The Brace Position
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I know what to do, head resting on the seat in front, hands on top of head fingers not interlocked. Arms on armrests, (hands on head still) legs far back as they can go and knees touching seat in front.
I know it is going to be difficult - especially as am I very tall!
The point is that if you, or I are in a situation where it is life or death - which can happen; we know what to do.
Nikolai.
I know it is going to be difficult - especially as am I very tall!
The point is that if you, or I are in a situation where it is life or death - which can happen; we know what to do.
Nikolai.
One was told many years ago by an air accident investigator that it made it easier for them to identify victims bodies because whilst in the brace position the head was isolated, the jaws clenched together and therefore made dental ID's much easier due to intact teeth.... "No way!" said I, but he convinced me that if a plane comes down hard then the forces acting on said frail body would be enough to cause fatal damage. I was shown the results of vehicle accidents and it was hard to argue against this point of view.
However, if the BA (LHR) and US Air (Hudson) crash landings are anything to go by that might not be the case anymore.
Regarding the protruding catches on the tray table and coat hangar in front of the passenger, I had an experience whereby the passenger in front of me 'flopped' down so hard in his seat whilst I was bent forward eating my meal that the catch did stamp itself into my scalp causing a bloody wound. A recessed catch/softer back would be safer.
regards
SHJ
However, if the BA (LHR) and US Air (Hudson) crash landings are anything to go by that might not be the case anymore.
Regarding the protruding catches on the tray table and coat hangar in front of the passenger, I had an experience whereby the passenger in front of me 'flopped' down so hard in his seat whilst I was bent forward eating my meal that the catch did stamp itself into my scalp causing a bloody wound. A recessed catch/softer back would be safer.
regards
SHJ
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In Virgin Economy, the instruction is to "..bend over, put your head between your knees and kiss your ass goodbye..." okay, I made the last bit up... 
In Upper Class, they tell you to lie back and cross your arms over your chest. (True)
Presumably makes it easier to get you into the coffin.
In Upper Class, they tell you to lie back and cross your arms over your chest. (True)
Presumably makes it easier to get you into the coffin.
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The brace position does not mean that you have to get your head between your knees. It is to get your head leaning on the seat in front, so the head is lower than the top of the seat. This is for 2 reasons......... 1 to protect the head from flying debris on impact i.e bags, books etc. and 2 to protect the head from the overhead lockers coming down and breaking your neck like what happened on the british midland crash on the motorway. The people killed in that were the ones who had their necks broken by the overhead lockers collapsing onto them, and in those days, the seat backs were lower than the head. Hence a longer seat back was implemented to prevent this incident occurring again in the future. There is no need for you to get your head down between your knees except for those in legroom seats where there is no seat in front to rest on.
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I think the main problem, is not the head - but the legs? What do you do?
I see by getting the knees pressed on the seat in front of you and you're ankles tucked under the seat you're sitting on. Should protect them, they might still snap?
And with two broken legs - you are not going anyway?
What to do then is the problem? Everyone can get there head resting on the seat infront of you - but in an emergency what do people do with legs?
I see by getting the knees pressed on the seat in front of you and you're ankles tucked under the seat you're sitting on. Should protect them, they might still snap?
And with two broken legs - you are not going anyway?
What to do then is the problem? Everyone can get there head resting on the seat infront of you - but in an emergency what do people do with legs?
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After the British Midlands crash on approach to East Midlands Airport, the brace position was found to also save the legs. If you position your legs as indicated/demonstrated/requested by the crew, your legs don't flail and possibly catch against something that could fracture them. It's all about ensuring that no bits get caught by falling debris or fittings (i.e. the overhead bins).
S.
S.
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The Brace position varies slightly across airlines/nations, and is intended to reduce avoidable injuries to a majority of passengers in a majority of situations. Much of the work done on the brace position was as a result of the BMI Kegworth accident (as mentioned above).
The intention at the upper end is to reduce head-strike injury and arm flail. The angled position of the leg below the knee is intended to reduce serious flail injury and therefore permit escape.
On most airlines, you should observe cabin crew take-up what is known as "semi-brace position" for take-off and landing. Typically, although not exclusively, this involves either the head leaned forward or braced back against the headrest, and the hands secured under the thighs, palm up, with the lower legs angled slightly back from the knee, feet flat on the floor.
Clearly whether or not as pax you intend to take up the correct brace position in an emergency is up to you. If you get it wrong, there is a risk not only to yourself, but to those sitting adjacent to you.
The morticians and teeth thing is something of an old saw, and most useful ass a silence filler at a dinner party table.
The intention at the upper end is to reduce head-strike injury and arm flail. The angled position of the leg below the knee is intended to reduce serious flail injury and therefore permit escape.
On most airlines, you should observe cabin crew take-up what is known as "semi-brace position" for take-off and landing. Typically, although not exclusively, this involves either the head leaned forward or braced back against the headrest, and the hands secured under the thighs, palm up, with the lower legs angled slightly back from the knee, feet flat on the floor.
Clearly whether or not as pax you intend to take up the correct brace position in an emergency is up to you. If you get it wrong, there is a risk not only to yourself, but to those sitting adjacent to you.
The morticians and teeth thing is something of an old saw, and most useful ass a silence filler at a dinner party table.
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Transport Canada Advisory Circular 0155 - Brace Positions for Impact
There are two primary reasons for bracing for impact. One is to reduce flailing by having the occupant flex, bend or lean forward over their legs in some manner. The other is to reduce primary and secondary impact by pre-positioning the body, particularly the head, against the surface it would strike during impact. Secondary (passenger) impact usually means a subsequent impact following the primary contact with the interior/seats and takes place when there is space between the body segment and whatever it might hit during impact.
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There is no requirement to physically put your head between your knees. Many airlines seem to have their own translation of how the brace position should be adopted but at the end of the day all that is required of you is to ensure you body is best protected to survive the impact so that you may have a better chance of escaping the crashed aircraft.
The primary requirements are to have your feet flat on the ground slightly behind your knees so that they will not be forced forward in the impact. Your head forward and as low as possible protected by your hands (do not interlock your fingers or else you risk some severe broken fingers which could prevent you from opening your seat belt or a door) and the bulk of your body lower then the top of the seat back so you are protected from collapsing overhead lockers.
At the end of the day the "suggested" brace position on your particular airline varies and I do not feel there is a definitive answer. Most of the studies behind the brace position came about over discussion on how to improve your chances of survival in a crash so that you can escape the wreckage. A lot of study has since been done with survivors of accidents most notably the Kegworth disaster. It has been revealed that the best way to prevent injury in an impact is to prevent flailing of the body which is why we have these brace positions.
SO, Next time you try to blag an upgrade from the crew by using the argument that you cannot adopt the brace position in the seat assigned to you, think again! lol
The primary requirements are to have your feet flat on the ground slightly behind your knees so that they will not be forced forward in the impact. Your head forward and as low as possible protected by your hands (do not interlock your fingers or else you risk some severe broken fingers which could prevent you from opening your seat belt or a door) and the bulk of your body lower then the top of the seat back so you are protected from collapsing overhead lockers.
At the end of the day the "suggested" brace position on your particular airline varies and I do not feel there is a definitive answer. Most of the studies behind the brace position came about over discussion on how to improve your chances of survival in a crash so that you can escape the wreckage. A lot of study has since been done with survivors of accidents most notably the Kegworth disaster. It has been revealed that the best way to prevent injury in an impact is to prevent flailing of the body which is why we have these brace positions.
SO, Next time you try to blag an upgrade from the crew by using the argument that you cannot adopt the brace position in the seat assigned to you, think again! lol
