Flying is one of the safest ways that you can travel. Data from the National Safety Council shows that drivers have a 1 in 114 chance of suffering a fatal car accident, compared to a 1 in 9,821 chance of suffering an air transport incident. Regardless of the facts, flying thousands of feet off the ground can still be nerve-racking to many people. Following these simple safety tips during a flight may help calm your nerves and feel safer during your trip.

Listen to the Preflight Safety Instructions

When you see the flight attendant point to the emergency exits and show you what to do in case of an emergency, you may notice that a lot of people are not paying attention. Even if the odds of an airplane accident are low, it’s still important to pay attention to these safety instructions. Especially if you’re seating in an exit row, it’s important that you know how to open the exit doors in case of an emergency. Don’t assume that you already know what to do, every airplane is different and has a different set of safety protocols that need to be followed.

Keep Your Seat Belt Fastened

Try and keep your seatbelt on during the flight, even if the “fasten your seatbelt” light is not on. During an emergency, you may not react quickly enough to fasten it again and this could result in injuries.

Pay Attention to the Flight Crew’s Instructions

If you see that the seatbelt light comes back on, follow the instruction, and buckle up once more. Weather and other events may force passengers and flight attendants to remain seated until instructed otherwise. Instructions like these may seem excessive or annoying to some passengers, but they are meant to keep everyone safe. Even if there’s mild turbulence, it could cause someone to lose their balance and fall.

Relax

Remember that flying is one of the safest methods of transportation. Data shows that commercial airplane accident fatalities fell by more than 50% in 2019. If you get nervous during takeoff or landing or are feel anxious about flying, try to distract your mind from your fears. Take an interesting book to read during the flight, download your favorite songs, you can also download a movie or your favorite show to watch on your phone or tablet. If you experience extreme symptoms of anxiety, consult with a doctor if taking medication before a flight may help you cope better with your fear of flying.

Check if You Have a Life Jacket

Although the chances of a commercial airline accident are very slim, it’s important to check if you have a life jacket under your seat in case of an emergency. Some passengers like to take these with them as souvenirs. Make sure you have a life vest before takeoff, if you don’t find one, alert one of the flight attendants about this.

Following these safety recommendations may help calm your fear of flying and are also helpful in the rare case that there’s an emergency during the flight. If you still feel anxious about flying, ask someone to travel with you, having someone by your side may help you feel more protected and confident.