“Knowing that You Know,” and Other Lesser Known Survival Tips
I did the Diane Rehm show today, which was a blast. (Rarely do you get an hour of media time to talk about anything, let alone an obsession that you’ve been researching for years.)
But I wanted to share with you what one listener sent in by email during the show. I wish I could have said it half as well:
From Jerry in O’Fallon, Missouri:
“I spent over 15 years training airline pilots and flight attendants in emergency procedures. Here’s what I know: Everyone has a moment of panic. The trick is to move past that and begin to figure out where you are and what you should do now. And the best way to do that is to have lived this moment before--in drills and in your imagination. It’s not knowing what to do that will save you. It’s knowing that you know what to do.”
MARY said on June 20, 2008 at 8:22 am
Ever since 911, I know EXACTLY what I will do in the event I should be on a plane being highjacked by terrorists. First of all, we already know that being nice and doing what they tell you will get you killed. Acting to survive may get you killed, too, but to me this is a no-brainer. First of all, I always try to sit on the aisle. Then I always ask for a blanket and pillow, and I place my briefcase or other carry-on under the seat in front of me. When I board the plane, I make a point of observing the other passengers, and especially anyone who appears to be nervous, agitated, or overly intense and quiet in his/her affect. I make a note where such a person is seated and stand up from time to time to see if they have moved to the back to use the restroom. I always use the pillow, and cover myself with the blanket, and appear to doze or read.
Should anyone start to rush to the front of the plane towards the cockpit, I will immediately and without warning stick my leg suddenly into the aisle in an attempt to make the person stumble or trip, and then throw the blanket over his/her head, and jump on them, while shouting at the other passengers and telling them what to do. Remember: there will be FAR fewer terrorists on board than passengers, so as in any similar situation on the ground, it is important to act quickly and without hesitation, thereby throwiing the criminal off their prepared game plan. In other words, the passengers must take over. But: ONE PERSON must act first. I am absolutely convinced that the men who acted in the Pennsylvania 911 highjacking that was headed for the White House waited far too long. They succeeded in saving the White House, but the plane was crashed anyway, with all lives lost. This CAN be done. The key is replace FEAR with ANGER, and if you can do that, you should know what to do.
Suzanne said on June 20, 2008 at 10:56 am
Thanks for this book, Amanda! I hope that it inspires regular people to adopt preparedness (rather than fear, hatred, and paranoia) a part of life, for the benefit of our families and communities. So often we feel like we have no control over the “bad” things that may happen, but this sense of resignation and the anxiety that it can create can ironically work to prevent us from surviving even more common emergencies and life-threatening situations. The confidence that comes from clarity and a sense of self-agency and awareness is so important, and can help us in ways that we won’t predict.
I can’t wait to read the book so that I can help foster this sense of confidence and agency in my own children.