Find out what happens when a plane depressurizes in the air

HELP! Everyone who has traveled by plane at least once in their lives has thought of the wide variety of accidents that can happen aboard an aircraft. Even though, as often as you always look at the safety instructions and know that you need to quickly put on the oxygen mask, wear the belt and leave all belongings in the luggage compartment and under the armchair, it is common to regard these determinations as unnecessary annoyance, since the risks seem to be paranoia in our head. After all, is the plane one of the safest transport vehicles or not?

Normally, flying is indeed safe, but some risks lie in inattention and human failure. One such example is cabin pressurization, a measure that is absolutely necessary for our body to withstand altitude. Air at great heights is at a lower pressure, so it is harder for us to inhale and get the oxygen needed to think clearly, which is even more important in risk situations.

Airplanes reaching an altitude of more than 3 kilometers must therefore have their cabin pressurized, maintaining a high level of oxygen for all to be comfortable. Increasing and decreasing pressure happens smoothly, imperceptibly. Recently, however, Jet Airways passengers going from Mumbai to Jaipur were startled because the crew forgot to pressurize the cabin. The result? Floating objects and a host of rather unpleasant symptoms, such as severe ear aches and bleeding, as well as a great deal of mental confusion.

Why does bleeding happen?

Ear pain caused by pressure difference can be observed when we go to the beach, for example. Curitiba is located 935 meters above sea level, Ponta Grossa, 956 m, Guarapuava, 1120 m, and this difference is felt when we are going down the mountain, or going up, because there is a difference in altitude, which blocks the Eustachian Tuba.

The blockage causes a small vacuum in the inner ear, which can be relieved by chewing gum, because when we swallow, we open this element of the ear. Since this part of the body is very sensitive, if the pressure change is large and rapid, it can cause bleeding, as well as the nose, due to ruptured small veins.

More serious risks

Most airplanes fly at an altitude of more than 10 kilometers, and by then we have 30 seconds to 1 minute of awareness to react. This means that if you flinch when putting on the oxygen mask, you may faint after being totally hallucinated. It is therefore important first to make sure and then to help others, even if you are a child.

This decrease in oxygen rates, called hypoxia, is even more dangerous if the fall is not sudden but gradual. As it is hard to notice, everyone, including the pilot, can fall into a big mental mess - and there is no one to save!

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