STRAPPED INTO A SINKING HELICOPTER (with U.S. Marines) - Smarter Every Day 201

TL;DR

To survive a helicopter ditching, anchor yourself to the seat, locate the exit, unbuckle, pull yourself out, and exhale while rising to the surface. Destin practices these steps with instructor Corey Catlett and U.S. Marines, progressing from an underwater tipping device to a simulator containing common Marine Corps aircraft escape hatches. Read on for the rodeo grip, regulator challenges, and reasons this training matters.

Transcript

(helicopter flying) (alarm systems beeping) - [Instructor] Ditching, ditching, ditching. (water rushing) - So, I'm alive. (laughs) All right, here's the deal. My last mission as a U.S. government civil servant was in a helicopter off the coast of Hawaii. We'll learn about that in a future episode, but this video's different. This is not like Destin... Read More

Key Insights

• 💦 Helicopters behave differently from airplanes when landing in water, requiring specific training to survive such crashes.
• 🤢 Maintaining reference points and staying in the seat during a submerged helicopter can improve chances of finding an exit.
• 🙃 Overcoming the fear of inhaling water while upside down is a significant challenge participants must face during the training.
• 🖐️ Instructors play a vital role in ensuring the safety and success of the participants, requiring constant awareness and quick decision-making.
• 🛝 Staying grounded, calm, and making deliberate decisions is crucial during a chaotic underwater situation.
• 🥺 This training prepares individuals for high-risk scenarios where panic and lack of knowledge can lead to dire consequences.
• 🆘 Gradual exposure to different difficulties in the simulations helps participants learn and adapt to increasingly challenging scenarios.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do you escape from a helicopter that has crashed into water?

Use the rodeo grip to anchor yourself to the seat, find and hold the exit, unbuckle your seatbelt, and pull yourself out. When rising to the surface, exhale all the way because Boyle's law affects the air in your lungs.

Q: Why do helicopters flip over and sink after landing in water?

Helicopters have heavy engines on top. According to the training explanation, that engine weight causes the helicopter to flip over and begin sinking after it lands on the water.

Q: What is the rodeo grip in helicopter escape training?

The rodeo grip means grabbing the seat between your legs to anchor yourself. It gives you a fixed reference point while you locate the exit and prepare to unbuckle underwater.

Q: What steps are practiced before trainees enter the helicopter simulator?

Trainees first use a tipping device to practice being upside down underwater. They begin by gripping the seat, finding the exit, unbuckling, and pulling themselves out; later, a removable hatch and a breathing regulator are added.

Q: Why must trainees exhale while rising to the surface?

Instructor Corey Catlett explains that trainees must exhale all the way to the surface so their lungs do not explode as they rise. The training connects this danger to Boyle's law.

Q: Why was breathing upside down difficult for Destin despite his scuba certification?

Destin had an Advanced Open Water Scuba Certification, but he normally wore a mask that covered his nose. Without that mask, water flooded his nose and sinuses, forcing him to overcome the fear of inhaling water while clearing the regulator and taking a breath.

Q: What does the helicopter escape simulator contain?

The simulator contains every escape hatch described in the training as common on Marine Corps aircraft. It lets trainees practice escaping while the simulated helicopter goes underwater.

Q: Who receives this helicopter water-survival training, and why?

U.S. Marines undergo the training, and it is also important for people working on offshore oil rigs. Its purpose is to prepare them to survive when a helicopter flips over and starts sinking after landing in water.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Destin participates in a realistic training scenario to prepare for surviving a helicopter crash into water, an important skill for marines and those working on offshore oil rigs.

• The training involves learning techniques like the "rodeo grip" and understanding Boyle's law to effectively respond in the life-threatening situation.

• Participants undergo multiple simulations, gradually increasing in difficulty, to learn how to stay calm, maintain reference points, and find their way out of the submerged helicopter.