In the world of air travel, flight attendants do much more than serve drinks and snacks—they are highly trained safety professionals, responsible for the well-being of all passengers. Among the many safety protocols they follow, one unusual practice often catches the eye: flight attendants sitting on their hands during takeoff and landing. While it may look odd to the average traveler, there is an important reason behind this procedure.
Image Credit: @_hennylim_ TikTok
Let’s explore the purpose of this practice and how it plays a critical role in ensuring safety during flights.
The Bracing Position Explained by a Flight Attendant
If you’ve ever noticed flight attendants buckling up in their jump seats and adopting a particular posture—sitting on their hands as the plane takes off or prepares to land—you might wonder what they’re doing. In a viral TikTok video, Cebu Pacific flight attendant Henny Lim sheds light on this often-overlooked protocol.
According to Lim, the posture flight attendants take, known as the bracing position, involves several key actions:
Fastening seatbelts securely
Sitting upright
Placing hands on their thighs with thumbs tucked in
Keeping arms relaxed
Ensuring their feet are flat on the floor
While this position may seem strange to passengers, it’s designed to serve a crucial purpose, especially in the event of an emergency.
Purpose of the Bracing Position
The main goal of the bracing position is to minimize movement and reduce the risk of injury if a crash or emergency landing occurs. During an impact, bodies can be thrown forward with significant force, leading to dangerous, uncontrolled movements, or flailing, which increases the risk of injury. By sitting on their hands and securing themselves, flight attendants limit their body’s motion and protect their limbs from potential harm.
Additionally, flight attendants use this time to mentally prepare for emergency scenarios. As Lim explains, this involves conducting a “silent review” where they mentally go over safety procedures, emergency exits, equipment, and commands. This mental preparation ensures they can act swiftly and effectively in the event of an emergency, prioritizing passenger safety at all times.
If you spot a rubber band on your front door handle, you need to know the sick thing it means
There are few things more important in life than the safety and security of ourselves and our loved ones.
It should go without saying that the majority of us want to avoid danger wherever possible, and most of all in our own homes. For as long as humans have been civilized, our homes, be they small or large, ancient or brand-spanking new, have provided us with an added sense of security.
Which is why it’s so terrifying when we fall victim to burglaries and the like. The very idea of a stranger gaining access to our home and being able to snoop around and touch or take what they please gives me the creeps.
I’m sure I’m not alone in that, so I thought it a good idea to share an important warning concerning a tactic employed by some criminals looking to gain access to properties by preying on unsuspecting homeowners. Want to know more? Read on…
Security at home is usually something people take seriously. Some own dogs that they rely on to be both a warning and defensive system. Others have security cameras outside their homes in the hope of warding off would-be criminals or filming them if they’re undeterred.
As has been the case time and again throughout history, however, criminals always endeavor to stay one step ahead of the preventative methods in place to stop them.
Warning!!! Two weeks ago during the day, a hard knock was at my front door, not a regular knock but almost pounding, (I…
Posted by Kim Fleming Cernigliaro on Thursday, April 21, 2016
A Texas woman, Kim Fleming Cernigliaro, found that out a few years ago, when she found herself at the center of an alleged break-in attempt at her home.
Following her terrifying ordeal – which occurred in 2016 – Kim took to Facebook to explain what had happened, as well as to give a rather sinister warning that people would be wise to remember.
“Two weeks ago,” her post began, “during the day, a hard knock was at my front door, not a regular knock but almost pounding, (I honestly thought something may have happened to someone and they needed help) but something didn’t feel right…and I DO NOT answer the door when I am here by myself. So don’t bother!
“After several Knocks, they finally left. I glanced and could see it was a man through the stained glass of my door. After about 30 minutes I walked outside to look for what I thought would be a brochure, but instead found a rubber band around my knob to hold the door to open when I unlocked the latch. I called Ron and he told me to get the gun out and leave it out.”
Shockingly, as per reports, Kim had come very close to being the victim of a technique used by criminals to gain entry to people’s homes.
Kim’s post went on to reveal that she had contacted the local sheriff, who had informed her that it was quickly becoming a trend in the area.
She continued: “As soon as you unlatch the door, they do not wait for you to turn the knob, they can bust in on you. Anyway just be careful, I USE to be such a trusting person, but not at all anymore!”
See more about the rubber band trick in the video below:
Wow! I’ll certainly be thinking twice about answering the door to unexpected strangers from now on! Share this article to help us get the message out there.
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