Air travel appears to be completely recovered! Safety advocates have long warned of the dangers associated with a passenger’s attire, particularly when it involves an open toe or heel. After a spate of airline incidents, public awareness about safety measures is higher than ever. With this in mind, experts are advising against wearing leggings and slip-on shoes while flying.
Further, most brands of leggings are made with synthetic fibers made with petroleum products. Flight attendant Tommy Cimato has explained how leggings could turn into a fire hazard on board. He told us that in any sort of emergency situation, these materials just melt into the skin. They are equally capable of inflicting deep, debilitating burns.
That’s even more astounding considering most leggings are produced from synthetic fibers and petroleum by-products. Looking specifically at the danger to airplane travelers, the largest threat in a potentially survivable plane crash is fire,” said aviation safety specialist Christine Negroni. She recommended that when traveling, passengers should think about their safety first and not wear outfits like that.
American Airlines Flight Attendant Andrea Fischbach performed a double-take on leggings too, noting that they can be quite binding. On a trip supporting the latter, she emphasized the importance of comfort when traveling. Get really comfortable to avoid cramping, swelling and other conditions that can creep up on you later on, she cautioned.
Beyond leggings, experts advise you to avoid these footwear mistakes. Negroni warned fellow passengers to not take their shoes off while in-flight. He reiterated that ground conditions are always uncertain. “If you escape an aircraft, the floor could be very hot or cold, it might be covered in oil or on fire, or in a cornfield – you won’t want to be barefoot,” she explained.
Fischbach counseled against high heels, flip-flops, and slides due to safety concerns. She mentioned that stilettos would potentially puncture evacuation slides if there was an emergency and we needed to evacuate. “If we have an evacuation and slides are needed, your stilettos will need to come off,” Fischbach said.
Dr. Peter J. Pappas, a vascular surgeon associated with the Center for Vein Restoration, cautioned against wearing certain types of shoes on planes. The simple yet profound recommendation from these experts highlights the importance of making informed choices while traveling.
Cimato shared his thoughts on hygiene as well: “You never know how clean the seat is going to be – so if you have pants, you’re going to have less germs.”
As airlines and passengers adapt to the many challenges of today’s air travel, one thing is for sure — the safety and comfort of their passengers comes first. Two thousand years later, scientists are still urging the public to make more sensible wardrobe decisions. It’s time travelers re-evaluate what they’re carrying on board.
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