You've been transported back in time
to the unsinkable luxury cruise ship,
the Titanic.
But you know how things really turn out
for this ocean liner.
And as you hear screaming in the hallway,
you realize that your knowledge
from the future is about to become
the difference between life and death.
The ship starts sinking,
time is running out,
and there's nowhere to run.
The Royal Mail Ship, or RMS Titanic,
was a luxury steamship
built between 1909 and 1911.
It was the largest movable artificial object
in the world at the time,
billed as "unsinkable".
It carried 2,240 people
from Europe to New York on its only voyage.
But in the early hours of April 15, 1912,
the Titanic hit an iceberg,
and it sank in the frigid water
of the North Atlantic Ocean.
This continues to be
one of the most famous
maritime tragedies in history.
Many things went wrong
on that tragic night.
As chaos and fear took over,
bad decisions and selfish actions
made escaping even harder.
The 16 lifeboats could only carry
less than 1,200 people.
And nearly every lifeboat
would be launched without being filled.
Some lifeboats only had
a handful of passengers.
Here's what you could have done to survive.
Paying for a more expensive cabin
would help, since the first-class
passengers were rescued first.
They were also more likely
to be higher up in the ship.
And your chance of surviving would be
greater if you were a woman or a child,
since 97% of the female first-class
passengers were rescued.
Only 32% of their male
counterparts were saved.
Wear as much clothing as possible.
Both the water and air were cold.
Whether you were on a lifeboat
or in the water,
wearing more clothes
would help you live longer.
Wool repels water
and creates insulating air pockets.
Wearing a lifejacket would be very helpful.
But without one,
you could stuff your shirt
with empty containers to help you float.
Charles Joughin,
the chief baker of the Titanic,
survived the sinking.
He calmly stayed on the ship
until the last second,
floated with his lifebelt for two hours,
then found an overturned lifeboat
and then paddled around
until he was rescued.
His secret?
He had more than a few drinks before
and after the ship began sinking.
While we do not encourage you
to get drunk in an emergency,
it is essential to have courage.
Don't let panic keep you from seeing
a solution that's right in front of you.
If there's no room on the lifeboats,
try to get to the highest point
and wait for the ship to sink.
The idea that you will be
sucked underwater with it
has been tested and disproved.
The Titanic’s lifeboat deck was
17.6 m above the water,
and even a 6 m jump
is enough to compress your spine
and break bones.
So, as you wait for the ship to sink,
throw chairs or tables overboard,
or anything that can help you stay afloat later.
In cold water, it takes 15 to 60 minutes
for your core temperature to drop
below 28 °C and stop your heart.
When you hit the cold water,
it causes an inhalation reflex.
So, try to breathe out and counter that.
After a minute of hyperventilating,
you'll have 10 more minutes before
your limbs become too cold to move.
Climb onto the deck chairs
you threw off earlier.
Or get on some floating debris,
anything that gets you out of the water.
Stay with a group of people,
and keep each other awake
while you wait to be rescued.
And if you can,
share your pieces of floating debris.
Don't be like Rose.
This tragedy could have been avoided
if there were more lifeboats on the ship,
and a clear evacuation plan
had been executed.
Instead, it was chaotic.
So, if you're ever in this situation,
follow the protocol and don't panic.
Stay focused, be positive,
and wait for rescuers to arrive.
But what if you aren't rescued?
Do you have what it takes
to survive being left in the open ocean?
Don't worry. We've got that covered too.