Discussions with your kids concerning your travel plans and what to do in case of an emergency should occur prior to your trip. Advise your kids to go to a uniformed airport employee if they get lost or separated from the family in the airport. In addition, remind them about not talking to or leaving the airport with strangers. Tell them what to do if a stranger approaches them in the airport. Judo Info suggests the following actions if your child is approached by a stranger: Shout "HELP" and "I don't know you" and "call 911." Then get away fast. Make a big scene so people will come. Carry and use a personal attack alarm. An additional precaution is to make sure your seats are together, if they are not, approach the flight service representative prior to getting on the plane and ask if your seats can be arranged so that you are sitting together. If there is an emergency, you will not be able to leave your seat to run to the back or the front of the plane to assist your children. If they are next to you or across from you, there is a better chance for you to give them physical or verbal assistance.
When traveling by plane airlines review the emergency procedures prior to taking off. There are pre-flight speeches given by flight attendants or films shown to make you aware of what the procedures are. Pay attention to the instructions. The seat in front of you usually has an emergency instruction card in the storage pocket. Read the card, study and understand what it says. If you are sitting by a wing, there is an emergency hatch procedure; make note of what needs to be done to open the hatch and exit. There is also a procedure for using the oxygen mask. In most cases, they automatically drop down if there is an emergency requiring you to use them. Since you should be coherent and able to think fast to assist your kids, you should put your mask on first, then assist your children in getting their masks on.
If the plane crashes and you are over water, there is a flotation device underneath your seat that can be used to help you stay afloat. Check the instructions to detach the device. You may have to verbally or physically help the kids remove the device and put it on, if necessary.
It is important to stay calm and keep a clear head in an emergency. You will have to give your kids instructions and ensure they are protected. If you are required to leave the plane, usher them forward firmly, do not scream, panic or push hard. You want to avoid anyone getting knocked down and trampled, including your kids.
Carrying luggage, backpacks or any items you brought on the plane is not a good idea when you are trying to exit in a hurry. They will only slow you down, tie up your hands and get in the way of both you and your children. In the case of an emergency the only item you should attempt to carry with you is the flotation device, if it is needed. If you don't need it, leave it behind.
