(Flyer’s tip: If you really want to be proactive, choose a seat in the center of the plane by the wings. That’s where the center of gravity is, so you won’t feel it as much, Dr. Fischer says.)
2. Don’t take your seatbelt off.
This should go without saying, but there’s a reason flight staff tell you to keep your seatbelt fastened as often as possible, even if the sign is off. Most of the wild turbulence-related injuries you’ve heard about in the news happen when people aren’t strapped in.
“Unexpected turbulence can happen,” Koukol says. “Your seatbelt doesn’t have to be cinched all the way down, but it should at least be clipped so if turbulence does occur, you can tighten it really quick.”
3. Don’t bolt out of the bathroom.
If you happen to be using the restroom when turbulence hits, experts recommend you stay in there, finish up, and sit on the toilet until it subsides (even if it gets a little, uh, messy). It may be nerve-wracking to not know what’s going on outside, but Koukol says that “staying seated is the best thing you can possibly do” for all the reasons we mentioned above. Only when things have calmed down should you head back to your seat, sit, and strap in.
4. Never open the overhead bins.
It’s extremely unlikely that turbulence will lead to an emergency water landing or something else dramatic, so there’s no need to panic and rummage for your belongings in the overhead bins. (Even if something major happens, you’ll need to leave all of your items behind anyway.) So just stay seated. Opening those bins could cause heavy bags to fall on your head, or someone else’s.
Any time you settle into your seat, Dr. Fischer says you should put away loose objects that could fly around during turbulence, especially children’s toys that aren’t being played with. And if you need to grab anything overhead during your flight, don’t forget to firmly close the bins when you’re done.
5. Don’t leave your tray table open.
As annoying as it is (especially if you’re in the middle of sipping a drink), there’s a reason flight attendants ask you to close your tray table for landing. In the event your descent is a little rocky, your face, chest, or abdomen can slam into your tray, Dr. Fischer says. The same thing can happen during turbulence.
