Pilot reveals the 'most important' advice you should know during an emergency: "Above your seat..."

Passengers traveling on an airplane more often than not take the safety briefing done by flight attendants before take-offs for granted. Many perceive this as the usual protocol while others nod their heads to be polite. Besides, it is the last thing anyone hopes to remember as they leave the airport. But an airline pilot (@perchpoint) has weighed in on a crucial step passengers must adhere to in case of an emergency. In a viral TikTok video, the pilot and former U.S. Army veteran talked about the importance of pulling down an oxygen mask. 

He stitched the video with a meme joking about the inattentiveness of the passengers. While the pilot mentioned that the context is completely unrelated, it did remind him how many travelers overlook the demo about oxygen masks. He reiterated the actual announcement made by the flight attendants and emphasized the “pull down” part. “Most people think that there’s just a massive oxygen bottle installed in an aircraft or multiple oxygen bottles,” the pilot addressed. However, the reality is much different. 

As soon as someone tugs on the oxygen mask released from above the passenger seats, it prompts a complex mechanism that produces oxygen instantly rather than supply directly from tanks. The pull-down action triggers a chemical reaction in a sodium chlorate mixture stored above as a firing pin facilitates a “small explosion” igniting the candle within that burns to produce oxygen as a byproduct of the reaction. The pilot featured charts and labeled diagrams of the chemical machinery fitted above that serves the life-saving purpose during oxygen deficiency at high altitudes. 

“And since it’s just a burn, it does not last very long, which you don’t necessarily need it for extended periods of time,” he reasoned. This is because pilots are notified of the toppling oxygen concentrations in the airplane and immediately start descending to lower altitudes, enabling the life-sustaining gas to be restored. “We all reach 10,000 feet within a couple of minutes. So, you really need to have that oxygen for about 5-10 minutes,” the expert shared. Another point the pilot encourages the viewers to look out for is that passengers must put on their own oxygen masks first before helping others due to the risk of falling unconscious within no time.

 With that stated, he also brought to attention that the harmless chemical reaction produces smoke and heat that could be inconvenient for some passengers. With over 5.4 million views and 545.4k likes, the pilot’s video was a hit among enlightened viewers. “I'm ashamed to say... I have literally never considered where the oxygen comes from,” wrote one person (@kassibug699) while another (@jackchase845) wondered, “Wait, why does this feel like the most important part but we’re never told this.” Someone else (@sigmalover6969420) chimed, “I’m telling this to everyone that sits next to me on every flight, forever.”

However, most of the comments were unserious and joked about the pilot’s fang-like teeth, collating him into a vampire. Others made quirky comments about his “pilot voice.” Nevertheless, the information shared was worth listening to since the delicate chemical reaction at play was unknown to many people. 

According to One Monroe Aerospace, commercial airlines have oxygen masks to tackle cabin depressurization, which occurs when the flight is at higher altitudes with thin oxygen concentrations. The lack of sufficient O2 in the cabin may cause hypoxia in passengers resulting in fatigue, nausea, and dizziness. This protocol is mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and must provide at least 10 minutes of oxygen for all flights. 

You can follow @perchpoint on TikTok for more aeronautical videos.