12.1 Emergency Equipment
Before an airline will allow a new cabin crew member to fly, they must ensure all the essential training has been provided and that staff know what they're for, what they do and when to use them.
The following outlines the equipment you'll be trained to use:
a.Oxygen masks (drop down in flight, and bottled oxygen)
b.Life jacket and infant life cots
c.Evacuation slide
d.Loud Hailer (megaphone)
e.Emergency torch (+ battery backup torch)
f.Fire extinguishers
g.Fire gloves
h.CPR Masks, and gloves
i.First Aid Kit
There will be allocated points throughout the flight where you will access the emergency equipment. These will be highlighted on the flight manual, and all cabin crew will need to be familiar with where all access points are for emergency equipment. During the pre-flight briefing, the senior cabin crew member may directly ask junior cabin crew members specific questions about the access areas for emergency equipment.
This process is not designed to single anyone out. The reason the SCCM asks these questions is to ensure all cabin crew are competent while on duty and prior to boarding.
12.2 Why You Should Put Your Own Oxygen Mask on First
To the average passenger, a cabin crew member donning their own oxygen mask first may seem selfish. However, doing so is central to everyone else's safety. When you do not do this, you soon begin to lose your decision making abilities. When the brain is starved of oxygen, it has about five minutes before it shuts down entirely. This is why you need to do what you can to restore the flow fast.
The same applies to parents travelling with children, or those who are travelling with others who are not able to apply their own masks. During an emergency, it is necessary to convey the need to apply your own oxygen mask before helping someone else to do so. It isn't a selfish measure; it is one that can save someone's life.
12.3 The Importance of Protecting the First Aid Kit
The exact nature of each first aid kit varies considerably. However, as many include syringes and epi-pens, it is necessary to keep the kit away from passengers. Always know where the kit is. If you, or someone around you, remove the kit, make sure you know where the kit is at all times. While few of the kits' implements have the potential to cause significant harm, some do. A passenger who wants to do so can use an epi-pen to immobilise a member of the flight crew. You should also keep a close eye on what leaves the kit, and document it accordingly.
You will be trained in advanced first aid during your induction period. Don't worry about the word advanced, you still won't learn too much. You will learn just enough to resuscitate a person, treat someone for shock, spot the signs of stroke, use an AED, and immobilise fractures. Anything that goes beyond what you are capable of should be attended to by an actual medical professional, which is why calling for one on the flight is necessary during certain emergencies.
12.4 When the Emergency Exit Slide is Used
The emergency exit slide may be used during any emergency landings(as mentioned in module 10). When you land on water, it will only be used once the crew can be sure that there is somewhere safe for passengers to go to—such as rafts—after the slide has been deployed. Unless there is a real immediate need to leave the aircraft, this will always be the case. Usually, your job is to ensure all individuals leave the flight safely, which often means remaining on-board until everyone has left.
Module Summary
In this module you learned about the many items available on-board an aircraft that you may use to keep passengers safe. While cabin crew members are trained to use most of these items, it is sometimes the case that only senior cabin crew members can implement them.
As well as knowing what these items are, it is necessary to understand what they are capable of, and why keeping them safe is essential.
While each item is designed to protect the passengers and the staff on-board, they also have the potential to cause harm. In the right hands, they form an essential part of the flight's apparatus in terms of safety. In the wrong hands, they can be dangerous.
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