Picture this,
you're flying effortlessly over the sea
to photograph a pod of dolphins,
when all of a sudden,
the engine fails on your helicopter.
As you plummet erratically earthward,
the rotors keep spinning
and the pilot struggles to maintain control.
Before you know it,
you've hit the ocean with a tremendous jolt.
Within moments, you're fully submerged.
What now?
Helicopters have many unique advantages
beyond just getting from point A to point B.
They can act as ambulances
to help ferry injured people to safety.
They fight forest fires from the skies.
They allow cinematographers
to capture incredible aerial shots,
and news agencies use them
for traffic updates
and to keep track
of high-speed police chases.
But they can also be a sinking death trap.
Unlike a plane,
if an engine fails on a helicopter,
they can't always glide their way
to a safe landing.
Which is why it is imperative
as a passenger
to know the proper survival techniques
in an emergency situation.
Before you decide
to go tour the Grand Canyon by air
or fly to some fancy private island,
pay close attention to this video,
as there are many safety precautions
you should know.
In the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger,
let's "get to the choppa." And find out.
While this video might give you
a general overview of what is helpful,
please also do yourself a favor
and enroll in helicopter survival training.
This is especially important
if you're planning to fly over water,
as an underwater escape from a helicopter
can be very challenging.
Luckily, there's a hands-on course
specifically designed
for underwater crash scenarios.
Helicopter Underwater Escape Training,
known as HUET,
is provided for flight crews,
offshore oil workers,
law enforcement
and military personnel
who are regularly transported over water.
With no wings to help balance the craft,
helicopters are prone to rollover quickly
and sink rapidly.
Training ahead of time has been shown
to triple your chance of survival,
helping you keep your composure
and follow the correct procedures
during a crash.
If you're just a regular passenger
on a helicopter tour
and you haven't done
any specialized training in advance,
make sure to listen to the pilot carefully
and learn where all safety equipment
is stowed.
Also, memorize your emergency exits.
For a water crash,
you may lose visibility,
become disoriented,
and will have to feel your way around.
If a helicopter loses power in the air,
it can crash at many possible angles.
It's important to know how
to brace for impact
to reduce any injuries from flailing about.
Determine which side might crash first
and try to position your body
against that part of the helicopter.
For instance,
push your head
into the surface it's likely to hit
and hold it there to prevent whiplash
and any secondary impact.
If you're facing forward,
squeeze your lower back firmly
against the back of the seat.
Lower your chin to your chest
and hang onto the edge of the seat
with both hands.
Or put them under your legs.
Do not hang onto the restraint harness
as it could break off on impact.
After the crash occurs,
count slowly to five
before leaving the brace position
and attempting to exit.
These five seconds will allow any debris
or projectiles to fly out of harm's way.
They will also help you keep calm
and clearheaded.
Once you've surveyed the damage,
locate the nearest emergency exit,
unbuckle your seat belt or harness,
and get yourself out.
If conditions allow,
and there's no rushing water
or growing fire in the cabin,
try to assist the other passengers
if you are physically able.
If you've crashed in water,
grab a life vest and the safety raft.
Pronto.
If you're injured,
you might have difficulty swimming,
so staying afloat is imperative
to prevent drowning.
Be sure to keep warm and stay hydrated.
It could take several hours
before any rescue crews arrive,
which is enough time
to suffer hypothermia,
if you aren't careful.
Sadly, many helicopter crashes can be fatal
and there's little you can do
do as a passenger.
Fortunately,
with recent safety developments,
any helicopters flying in busy U.S. airspace
are mandated by
the Federal Aviation Administration
to have the Automatic Dependent
Surveillance Broadcast system,
or ADS-B, installed.
This satellite-based technology
tracks the helicopter's exact position,
size and direction.
Meaning, if anything goes wrong,
rescue teams will know exactly
where to find you.
In the event that you crash in a forest,
you might also want to be prepared
to survive a forest fire,
since things can heat up unexpectedly.
Remember, if you want to stay alive,
keep watching How to Survive.