Q&A for How to Escape a Sinking Ship

Jump from the part that is nearest the water so your fall is not as dangerous. If possible, ease into the water to avoid injuries.

Okay, so weigh it up -- would you like to sink with the ship or have a chance of surviving in a lifeboat? Given that sharks aren't very attracted to human beings in a lifeboat, attempting to save yourself in the lifeboat is infinitely more preferable.

Try to get hold of a floating object. Make your way to a life boat if possible.

Grab onto something that floats, like a piece of wood, and if the sea's not too cold, you can just jump into it with your PFE on.

Don't. Find somewhere shorter from the water, even though that makes that spot easier to sink. If you jump from a height greater than 20m, you can hit the water at the speed of around 50 miles/hour, making the water as hard as concrete, which can cause you severe injuries or death.

It is best to get out and onto a floating object, such as a life boat, and get away from the ship in case a sinkhole is created.

Find somewhere to exit before the area you're in floods. If any windows are around, break them and escape.

You may live, but there is no way to predict exactly. Gaining entry into a lifeboat will up your chances of survival compared to going down with the ship.

If you believe it is safe to do so and it has stuff that can help you survive, yes. If the situation is dangerous, or the luggage is filled with things that don't help in a sink-or-swim situation, don't waste valuable time.

Get into the lifeboat, as you can grab onto it if the sinkhole starts to pull you in.

Try to find anything that floats. As a last resort, something as simple as a gallon jug can serve as a makeshift flotation device.

Protect yourself first by putting on a lifejacket. Do the same for the children, if possible, and instruct them to hold hands in a chain with you as you seek a lifeboat or escape.

Take snacks, a small basic first aid kit, and warm comfortable clothing. You will be fine, just stay vigilant and in the event of an emergency, listen to the crew's instructions.

The captain's duties would come first, so I assume she would go down with the ship.

Try to find something that floats to act as a substitute lifeboat. That could be a door, a piece of the ship, a large suitcase, etc. You can also try squeezing into an existing lifeboat, even if it seems full.

You should use whatever you can to keep yourself above the water, including lifeboats.

You would jump off the windward side. If you were to jump off the leeward side, the fire (flames, smoke, and debris) would be blowing over you.

Certainly, but the time rescue arrives can vary based on a variety of factors including weather, the time required to reach the site of the accident, and region into which the rescue effort's jurisdiction falls. Predicting when exactly rescue will come is not possible without some idea of the circumstances. It's best you prepare to accept some harsh realities, that you may be stranded for a long time.

Stay away from it, and alert someone who can help.

It will go into the air, then fall into the ocean, creating a sinkhole around it. Try not to be on or near the ship when this happens.

While it may seem hopeless, you can still survive. If an alarm has not yet sounded, try and warn everyone of the danger by loudly yelling about it. Do NOT go out of your way to be heroic. Grab something that can float if there are no lifeboats. Don't jump into the water from a height. Find a low area, but don't go out of your way to get to one. Carefully jump into the water with your floatable object and try to get as far away from the sinking trip as possible. If you have a phone, attempt to call for help.

If there is a rescue helicopter signaling to people to go, and no one else is going, go for it. Don't do it if you are about to get in a life raft/lifeboat, and only if it's closer than the lifeboats. If there is a helicopter on the pad with the engines off, DO NOT go for it. Even if you are a licensed helicopter pilot, in the time it would take to start the engines, the ship would be tilting too much for you to safely take off, endangering the lives of you and others nearby.

It depends on the size of the boat and the severity of the leak. If you have some type of plug handy that can plug a small hole in the bottom of the boat, you might be able to prevent your boat from going underwater. If it is a big leak, you probably don't have enough time to fix it, and your best bet in this case is to jump into the water and try to swim to shore, depending on how close to shore you are.

Most ships have elevators/lifts and stairs, but in a sinking ship the elevators/lifts might become full, not giving people in need of the elevators/lifts time to use them.

Just grab whatever floats or just tread water.

The owners may, but the initial crew will not save them. To them, human lives come first.

Try to get on anything that floats. Wood, tables, doors, anything! Do not submit to death. Do not just swim, as you might get hypothermia. Grab hold of something and hold on for dear life.

If someone enters cardiac arrest, perform CPR. The lifeboat may have a defibrillator equipped onboard as well as other medical supplies intended at providing first aid to passengers who might have been injured or drowned until medical help can arrive.

If this happens, stay on whatever floating part of the ship is remaining until rescuers arrive. Your odds of surviving, though, are very slim. Don't try to swim or wade as even the strongest swimmers can get swept out by strong ocean currents or succumb to hypothermia.

Just wait for help, somebody will have called for help while the boat was sinking and those going to help know where you are. Just stay calm on your lifeboat and wait patiently.