Tuesday 16 April 2013

13 things you should know about plane safety, an article on news.com.au/travel

EVERY time you board a plane the cabin crew run through their standard safety demonstration

The briefing contains a lot of useful advice, but there are also things they don't explain that could be the difference between life and death.
There’s a one in 90 million chance of being killed in a plane crash, with three-quarters of passengers surviving in even the most serious crashes, according to the US National Transportation Safety Bureau.
Knowing the best things to do in an emergency can help put the odds in your favour.
 
Here are 13 things you should know about plane safety:
 
You may want to check your life vest is actually there
In theory it should be there, but you should always check before take-off. So u can always use it in an emergency landing on water...
 
You need to have a plan. A good plan
If the plane is going to crash, you need to have a plan. Try not to panic – the odds are still overwhelmingly in your favour. As most accidents happen during take-off and landing, focussing on your plan in the few minutes before these times could be beneficial. Make sure you’re ready for a quick exit - remove your shoes, keep socks/stockings on, don't put on a face mask and don't wear earplugs or earphones.
Assess the conditions of where you’re likely to be landing – if it’s in a cold climate you should put on whatever you can to keep warm. If you’re heading towards the water put on your life vest once you’re out of the plane. Doing so before leaving the plane will just restrict your movement.
 
Why you need to count the rows to the nearest exit
If your plane crashes, aviation experts often refer to the first two minutes as golden. If a survivor can stay calm and stick to their plan in this time, they have a pretty good chance of escaping alive. Knowing how far it will be to your nearest exit is key – always do as you’re told and count how many rows you’ll have to go to get out of the plane in an emergency.
 
How to adopt the brace position properly
Make sure if you need to brace for impact that you put your hands on your head, your weaker one over the other stronger one. That way, if something falls on you the stronger hand is likely to be ok as it’s been protected – and you’ll need it to unbuckle your seat belt when the time comes.
 
If you manage to get out of the crashed plane, find shelter fast
Run as fast as you can and put whatever barrier you can between yourself and the plane in case of an explosion e.g. a tree, hill or building.
 
Apply your own oxygen mask before helping others
If the cabin loses pressure, you’ll only have about 15 seconds to start breathing through the oxygen mask before you lose consciousness. If you’ve got yours on, you can help anyone else who hasn’t made it in time.
 
Keep your seatbelt fastened low and tight around your waist
The tighter your seatbelt is, the lower the G-force you’ll experience in the event of a crash. And if it’s too high, you could suffer serious internal injuries – the pelvis is a strong bone that can withstand a fair bit of force. Many injuries happen due to turbulence throwing passengers out of their seats. For example,
passengers were flung to the roof, then back down again on a Qantas flight last year.
 
Turn off your electronic devices during take-off and landing
Probably the most-debated rule of flying, the consensus seems to be that there is a risk of interference with plane equipment, and it’s best to err on the side of caution. Scientific American reports that it’s likely that they’re allowed on while the plane is cruising because there’s more time for the crew to diagnose and fix any problems.
 
Why do airlines dim the lights during some landings?
The cabin lights are dimmed during night-time take-offs and landings to help your eyes adjust to the dark, whether it be a dark runway or a smoke-filled cabin.
 
Make sure you stay low if it’s smoky
If there’s smoke make sure to stay as low as you can while getting out as quickly as possible. The smoke is likely to be highly toxic and more likely to kill you than flames.
 
Just how heavy are the exit doors?
Why should you care? Well, if the flight attendants are injured and you’re close by, you may be called to open it. Some exit doors weigh 18 kilograms, but feel even heavier when you’re trying to open them while seated. A handy tip from Airfarewatchdog.com is to use your knee to rest the door and then swing it out and throw it on the wing.
 
Drinking alcohol may not be wise
You want to be able to react and make decisions as quickly as possible in an emergency, so avoid the alcohol.
 
Why are there handles by the door?
In a panicked emergency evacuation, passengers can push flight attendants out of the way and down the slide. They’re meant to be manning the door.

(....edited by me)
 
Happy Flying friends...
 
Chao...

Monday 31 December 2012

Good Bye 2012

Hello friends...

Today is 31st December, the last day of this year 2012... So friends lets get ready to welcome the New Year with full joy and exitement and positive thoughts too...

2012 was not a very exciting year though... Had more of negatives than positives this year...
Hoping for good news coming all our way from day 1 of  2013...

Wishing all my friends and family a very Happy and Prosperous New Year...

See you all next year...

Take care and God bless...

Chao.......

Sunday 9 December 2012

The art of flying: Tips and Tricks to keep Flight Attendants happy

A nice post shared by one of my collegue: Worth following....

From packing, to paying, to security, traveling by plane is a stressful experience. But Reader's Digest says there are a few things flight attendants won't tell passengers that can make the experience in-flight more pleasant.
  • Make sure to push your carry-on bag all the way into the overhead bin - don't leave it sticking out for the flight attendant to fix.
  • Flight attendants will try to disarm an unruly passenger by introducing themselves, or point blank asking why an unruly traveler is treating them poorly. Often, other passengers approve.
  • The average age for a flight attendant is 44.
  • When they hand you a cup of coffee and ask, "Cream and sugar?" but you don't hear them - it's safe to assume what they're asking. No need to ask 10 times.
  • Please keep your child from playing with the call bell.
  • It's a lavatory door - not rocket science.
  • If you have a baby, bring diapers; if you're diabetic, bring syringes; if you need an inhaler, bring it, etc.
  • There are others on the plane besides you. Don't clip toenails or do any other unsavory tasks underneath a blanket.
  • Traveling overseas? Bring a pen. There's a good chance you'll be filling out forms to enter a foreign country.
  • Stop tattling on other passengers unless it's something serious.
  • Just because you're traveling to West Palm Beach doesn't mean you're first class.
  • Wait to go to the bathroom until the food cart is out of the aisle.
  • Is it that hard to say "Hello" and "GoodBye?"
  • Don't touch them.
  • Attendants really aren't allowed to lift your luggage into the overhead bins for you. They can only assist.
  • Please don't try to join the mile-high club. Besides, those bathrooms are cramped and gross.
  • If flight attendants page a doctor or get a defibrillator, it's not a good time to ask for a drink.
  • You can only pee in the lavatory, period.
  • Yes, it's OK to use the lavatories while you're on the ground. It's not like they spill out onto the tarmac.
  • They don't want to touch soggy tissue or loaded baby diapers.
  • Don't slowly scour your area for tiny pieces of trash. There are 150 other passengers to serve.
  • Sometimes it takes a long time to find a wheelchair - they're subcontracted through the cities airlines fly into.
---
Happy and Safe flying friends...
See you all in my next blog....

Friday 27 July 2012

Hi all....
M back after a long break again....  Well, my hubby is fit n fine now.... gone to Singapore for his project for some time..... By God's grace everything is going perfect.... My flying has reduced drastically and hence get lots of time now a days with my family; I miss my hubby though....
M too planning to visit him as soon as our daughter's passport arrives...
Will keep you all updated....

Nothing specific to write about hence ending my post here....

Take care all... see you in my next post...

Good Night... Sweet Dreams...

Chao....

Tuesday 21 February 2012

Crew and passengers.... pax seating and baggage...

Hi all...
A little experience to share with those who are not from the flying background....
How strange a passenger(pax) behaves with his own race who is in uniform and travelling wit him and providing him safety and hospitality...
There are more than 200-250 pax  on an average most of the aircrafts... Yet every passenger thinks he is the King on board... Every one wants something, rather many things right from there first step on the aircraft....
 'A' seat pax searching his seat on the 'K' side of the aircraft and after most of the pax are seated, some pax will come and ask... "madam, muzhe galat seat diya hai... ye(showing the boarding card) seat par already ek aadmi baitha hai''... Now wat, check the seats and reseat the passengers and to add up on this, the original seat on the first pax boarding card is also occupied by someone, "Madam,  mera dost hai bajuvale seat may... can u adjust", as if I m sitting there.... finally reseating almost 3 ppl around... and this may happen multiple times on a single flight...
'Madam, wer to fit this bag", cant even say on my head... Well, the bag which pax bring on board most of the times are not ment for cabin... either they are big than requried or very heavy... A family of 4, Mom, dad, five yr old and three yr old carry one 21" trolly bag each... and the bin gets full with two... Aircraft has its own limitation... Now where to accomodate these remaining two...? This is the condition with all the pax on board...
Wheelchair pax who board first, most of them carry bags more than our weight... "beta, ye bag upar rakho", as if our hands and backs are made of iron... and if u help one all other pax following them expect the same... Still we help them... Feels like saying, if you cant put it yourself, why carry such heavy bags...  and for any other normal, healthy pax who ask us to put the bags in the overhead bins, I dont understand how they must have cleared security and carried that all the way to aircraft... Amazing isnt it...! When the last pax arrives, we had almost broken our back by putting 25-30 bags into various bins on the aircraft...
Upgradation... another headache...
So many passengers give us there visiting cards to forward it to the Commander on board as he has the rights to upgrade passengers... If commander doesnt upgrade some one then that passenger, make sure to ruin the whole flight for us.... Even if this passenger is upgraded to a exec class, he now thinks he can demand the whole aircraft... Though crew always try and get watever is possible, either from first class or at times even give out things ment for crew, most of the times crew meal... but there is no class seen in that pax... no where... Not in the way he talks nor in the way he behaves with the crew...

Conclusion:
You have your boarding card in hand and you are enough literate to check seat nos written clearly above all the seats... If  need be, as in someone sitting on your seat, call crew to assist...
Carry smaller n lighter bags as it will be good for you too to carry them to n fro aircraft....
Keep a positive attitude towards the crew and be good to them, as once the aircraft doors are closed, every thing is in there hands...
Hope my friends who belong to the other side, keep these things in mind...
There are many things to discuss in this blog... which I will put forward in following parts...
See you all in the next blog...
Till then take care of yourself... happy flying...
chao...

Monday 20 February 2012

Things settling down....

Hi all,
Things are settling down now on family front... my hubby, now, is under medication... since then there is no episode of convulsion....Thank God...
He has gone back to amhedabad and started his regular schedule... Everything is going better now... touch wood...
I have reported fit after a long break due cervical spondylitis... but still at home on stand by for good 6 days... 3 days already gone now... hope I get a better flight and they inform me much in advance... so wont be shocked with the assignment and rush myself unnecessary....
Hope for the best as usual...
Ending my post here...
C u all in my next blog....
Till then take care...
BBye..

Tuesday 31 January 2012

Born with the bomb... Part II

Hi everyone....
My blog is slowly turning on family issues... Well, this is a nice forum to open ur mind and let others kno wat you think and how you feel...
I m still getting settled with the situation... New Year seems to be very hard on me and my family...
M very confused, how should I handle all this... Past few days we are talking only doctors and tests and appointments and hospitals and 'embolisation'.....
We have met or rather consulted 3-4 senior and the bestest doctors regarding this BOMB... and everyone has confirmed Emoblisation of this AVM...
Though all the doctors have said its not a emergency, but cant be ignored or delayed... as AVM can bleed and cause hemorrhage any time....
We met the top and Senior most doctor, who is a neuro surgeon and also a interventional radiologist... No. 1 in whole India... He went through the reports thoroughly and explained us very well what exactly this case is... we all were so impressed by the open hearted discussion of the doc regarding this AVM and the embolisation procedure... No wonder, he is refered to as the ultimate as far as AVMs and embolisations are concerned.... Though he too gave a 2% error possibilities during the procedure... as AVM may even bleed during an Embolisation or he may get a seizure during the process... which is life threatening.... But after a successful operation he will be as normal as any other human being...
Well, for now, he is put up on anti-epileptic medicines and Drs have told him not to swim and drive and keep away from fire... and also he has to stop bending forward or lift heavy things, no heavy sneezing and coughing, must eat and sleep on time...
With two tablets a day, all my hubby does is,  sleep, sleep and sleep.... I can understand, as epileptic medicine makes us drowsy and it takes a while to come to regular schedule...
I am happy that almost after a year and a half, I am home and we both are together, a month now... Charvis' also getting best of our time these days... but, still something is bothering us both mentally... the 'AVM', 'Emboisation', 90-10 life chances... hope everything goes fine... soon....
Oh God, please help me and my family by showing us the right path, right track... and giving us courage to handle this situation properly...

Will keep u all informed...
take care all... wish us best luck...
Chao...

Monday 23 January 2012

Born with a BOMB....

Hi all...
M back...

Past few days I am in a very different mental state.... reason being my husband's health... 
Since October last year he has been experiencing seizures... His third; ie, last seizure got him hospitalised in ICU, in an emergency... 
To check reasons for the same our family physician suggested for an EEG (Electro-encephalo-graphy) and a CT Scan... Though EEG was normal, the CT Scan showed a Malformation in his brain... 'Vascular Malformation'... 
After seeing all the reports, doctor suggested for a 4 Vessel DSA... (Digital Subtraction Angiography), to visualise the arterial and venous supply to the brain...
After he was back in station, we got the DSA done... it was an hour procedure, though we had to hospitalise him for 24 hrs... The DSA test confirmed the vascular malformation was an AVM (Arterio Venous Malformation), an abnormal connection of the veins and arteries in the brain... AVM is also known as BOMB... which can explode any time resulting in Brain Hemorrhage or Paralysis.... It could be a reason for the seizures he had or in other words, seizures could be one of the symptoms of AVM...
These AVMs can be either operated; ie, open skull surgery by a Neuro Surgeon, Gamma Knife; ie, laser treatment by a Neuro Surgeon or by Embolization; ie, gluing technique by Interventional Neuro Radiologist...
In my husband's case, doctor suggested the third option, Embolization... The purpose of embolization is to prevent blood flow to an area of the body, which effectively can shrink a tumour or block an aneurysm.

Since doctor have told us about this, it is very difficult for us to concentrate on our normal activities... Though it is curable but its related to brain, hence bothering us more... Doctor has suggested Embolization procedure to be conducted sooner And with his profession, the mental stress is very high than physical stress...
Currently, we are searching for the bestest doctor available in town so as to consult him regarding this Bomb... in short... we are after a Bomb Squad...
Please wish me luck... and pray for my hubby's successful recovery from this unheard malformation.....
Will keep you all updated...
C u Soon...
Till then take good care of urself
Chao...

Also see following link: http://t.co/04Oddmm4

Sunday 15 January 2012

અમદાવાદ, મજા ની લાઈફ...

Hi everyone...

Happpyyy Nnneeeew Yeaaarrrr....
Its never too late to wish any one... Well, was very busy since I ve returned from Chicago... Was in Ahmedabad with my hubby and daughter for the new year...

It was a good stay, made new friends, saw new places, new restaurants, new markets, new malls.... Oh, had a very good time with my daughter, hubby and all my amdavadi friends...

New year's night we celebrated inhouse... though the major meal taken was dinner @ Currys the next day... chicken shorba, tangdi kabab, roghanjosh, rotis, dal khichdi... all these were amazing... excellent taste and ample quantity made our appetite and soul happy... valet too...
Hubby's birthday on 2nd... was only a feast day for us... eating out day... A very good blogger friend, Uma (Mau) tai, of ours made walnut cake.... had a good time with her family at her place that day... Similarly my birthday was planned by her... 
Charvi too enjoyed her time with me and her dad together after a very long time...
Aadalaj ni Baav, Iskon temple, Iskon Mall, National Handloom house, Law Garden, Akshardham temple were some of the places we visited during the stay...
Barbeque Nation, Dominos, Currys, Vishala, Uma Satish (Mau tai)'s residence... are the best places to eat the delicacies... though we will get all the tastes in Mumbai too except for Mau tai's Cakes and Satish Dada's hospitality... Such a wonderful family I met... we felt very homely with them...
Coudnt wait there for uttarayan, which is celebrated as a festival in amdavad... feeling so bad about it... had to come back home, ie, Mumbai due to some limitation... I missed major event of kite flying there.... never
mind... as I always say, there is always next time... may be next year we all may be there again...

Well, ending my thesis here... will be back soon... Amdavad, majja ni life....
Happy Uttarayan, Happy Sankrant...
Njoy Undiyu n Jalebi....
C u all soon...
Till then take care...
Chao...

Friday 23 December 2011

Chicago and Winters - Part II

Hi all,
Second day in Chicago... drizzling since afternoon... went for christmas shopping... Was -1... through with my things and suddenly realised that its snowing... the first snow of the year... lovely and cold... Officially the first day of winter....
Had my dinner and was tired walking in the malls here... so sleeping time now...
tomoro morning is my call for flt back to India...
Will keep updating guys...
Till then Good Night...Sweet Dreams
See u all soon...
BBye....

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