There’s an emergency on your plane. How to stay safe if you have to leave in a hurry

Are you ready for an emergency on your flight?

While it’s rare, jetliners could run into trouble before taking off or landing. Perhaps it’s a warning light in the cabin or a blown tire, an engine issue or a problem with the landing gear.

While most of us tune out the emergency instructions recited by flight attendants as the plane taxis on the tarmac, passengers need to know what to do in a possible emergency.

So we’ve put together a brief guide for you.

Here’s what you should know if you find yourself in an emergency situation, according to American Airlines and Delta:

What to do before taking off

▪ Take note of all the emergency exits as you board a plane and know which one is closest to your seat.

▪ Store your belongings in overhead bins or under the seat in front of you so they’re not in the way during an emergency evacuation.

What to do in an emergency

▪ If air pressure in the plane changes to levels that can cause asphyxiation, oxygen masks should drop out of the ceiling, according to American Airlines and Delta. When they do, you should put yours on as quickly as possible, then help others.

▪ You should start breathing into the mask and the airflow will begin, even if the bag on the mask doesn’t inflate.

What to know during an evacuation

▪ If the plane loses power, floor lights will lead passengers to the exits.

Each exit, including those next to the wings, have inflatable slides that allow people to get off the plane safely, according to American Airlines and Delta. Once out the door, passengers should move away from the plane.

▪ Some of those same slides double as rafts, except the ones on the wings.

▪ Life vests are usually located under or next to each seat on a plane. If you can’t find where one is, the safety brochure assigned to each seat should say so.

▪ If you know you’re going into a body of water after evacuating, you should pull the tab or handle of the compartment containing the life vest and remove the vest from the packaging. Once removed, put on the vest and secure the strap around your waist. You should wait until off the plane to either pull the tab at the bottom of the vest or blow into the tube at the top of the vest to fill it with air. Flight attendants should distribute specially fitted life vests for kids under 35 pounds.

▪ Seat cushions can also be used as flotation devices if pulled off the seat.

Should you take your luggage?

▪ If you need to exit the plane in an emergency, don’t take your on-board bags. Grabbing your belongings can slow an evacuation, according to a safety recommendation issued by the National Transportation Safety Board.