Getting nervous during turbulence is a common experience, and there’s nothing more distressing than feeling that drop in your stomach at 35,000 feet above ground.
Turbulence occurs when air currents whirl in different directions and is caused by a range of reasons such as temperature changes, wind shear, fronts or thunderstorms. According to the National Weather Service, it’s “one of the most unpredictable of all the weather phenomena” of significance to pilots.
While there’s not much to be done about turbulence, there are some things you can do to help yourself relax and avoid getting hurt.
Here are some common mistakes people tend to make during turbulence and what to do instead:
Never stand up
Experts warn against giving into your instinctive fight-or-flight response and resist the urge to get up and move around during turbulence.
Stuart Fischer, MD, FAAOS, an orthopedic surgeon in Watchung, New Jersey, told SELF that standing up is the most dangerous thing one can do during turbulence — no matter how strong or well-balanced you feel you are. Standing leaves you more vulnerable to falling down or falling into hard objects and hurting yourself.
If you’re seated during turbulence, Leo Arguelles, PT, DPT, spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association, advised keeping your hips and pelvis aligned with your knees while you keep your feet planted on the ground. Slouching increases your changes of hitting your head on the seat in front of you.
“Dispersing your weight between your pelvis and feet can take the pressure off your back and make it easier to stay upright for longer,” Arguelles said.
If you happen to already be standing when turbulence hits, immediately sit down on the floor where you are and hold onto a nearby armrest, Kyle Koukol, a commercial pilot who founded a service called Dial a Pilot, told SELF. Otherwise, there’s a risk in severe turbulence that you could be catapulted upward and bang your head on the ceiling.
Fischer added that those who are particularly nervous and want to take precaution should choose a seat in the center of the plane near the wings to be closer to the center of gravity since you won’t feel the turbulence as much there.
Don’t take your seatbelt off
There’s a reason airplane crew advises you keep your seatbelt on as often as possible — whether the light is on or not.
“Unexpected turbulence can happen,” Koukol shared. “Your seatbelt doesn’t have to be cinched all the way down, but it should at least be clipped so if turbulence does occur, you can tighten it really quick.”
A majority of turbulence-related injuries occur when someone is not strapped into their seatbelts.
Don’t rush out of the bathroom
If you’re using the bathroom when turbulence strikes, don’t rush back to your seat.
Stay in the restroom, finish your business and sit on the toilet until the turbulence subsides.
Regardless of where you are, Koukol said that “staying seated is the best thing you can possibly do” for all the reasons we mentioned above. Only when things have calmed down should you head back to your seat, sit, and strap in.”
Don’t open the overhead bins
The chances of turbulence leading to an emergency landing, so don’t get ahead of yourself and panic to get your belongings from the overhead bins. Opening the bins can cause the heavy bags within them to fall on top of your head or someone else’s head.
Besides, even if something dramatic did happen, you have to leave your items behind regardless.
Fischer said that any loose objects that could potentially fly around during turbulence should be stored away when they’re not being used.
Don’t leave your tray table down
The reason you have to close your tray table for landing is the same reason why you should close it during turbulence: Your face, chest or abdomen can slam into your tray and cause injury, Fischer explained.
This will also help objects like hot coffee or tea from catapulting or spilling onto you.
Fischer also suggested avoiding taking a nap on your tray table and resting your head on it, as your head could slide into the seat in front of you and potentially hurt your neck or head.
Try not to panic
Easier said than done, but try to stay calm.
“Although all these stories in the news are quite scary, especially when people are injured, it’s pretty amazing how many millions of flights go off without a hitch,” Koukol said.
“With all of the different tools we have to both forecast and identify turbulence, we’ve reached a phenomenally safe era in commercial aviation.”