Why do we do the brace position on planes?

THE brace position is a safety measure that people are told to do on planes in the event of an emergency.

But what position are passengers told to go into and what does it protect? Here’s what we know.

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What is the brace position?

To assume a brace position is an instruction that can be given to prepare for a crash, such as on an aircraft.

The pilot will shout “Brace, brace” in the event of an emergency, instructing passengers to get into position.

The brace position is the one that protects the internal organs better than any other.

So in the unfortunate event that the plane does go down, the motion of resting your head downwards with your hand over your head stops all that free movement inside the body.

From research with dummies and from air crash investigations, we know that’s the best position to be in at the moment of impact.

Why do we do the brace position on planes?

It is supposed to protect the neck in the event of a crash, as sudden movement of the neck can cause whiplash, and in some cases death.

Having hands over your head in a brace position gives significantly more protection if the plane jolts suddenly.

What is the safest seat to sit on in a plane?

It is very important to note that air travel is extremely safe.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) states on their website: “There is an average of one fatality for every 287 million passengers carried by UK operators.

“This can be compared with a one in 19 million chance of being struck and killed by lightning in the UK or a one in 17,000 chance of being killed in a road accident.”

It is thought that the middle seats towards the back of the plane have the lowest fatality rate.

This is firstly because the back of the plane will suffer less impact than towards the front during a crash, and the people sitting in the middle seats would have the buffer of two others next to them to soften the blow.

What other safety rules do I need to follow?

Passengers must fasten their seatbelts when the light comes on. This occurs during take-off and landing, but can also occur if there are strong winds.

You are advised to switch electronic devices to airplane mode so that it doesn’t interfere with the aircraft’s systems during the flight.

It is also advised that you stow away hand luggage rather than keeping it on the floor, as this could be a trip hazard in the event of an emergency.

Members of the cabin crew will perform a demonstration of what to do in the event of a crash, such as how to use life jackets and oxygen masks, and it is advisable that you listen to this.