january-2010

your wellbeing onboard
SAFETY, SECURITY & COMFORT
Jetstar is a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas Airways Limited and places the
same emphasis on achieving standards of excellence in safety and security.
QANTAS GROUP SECURITY
The risk-management challenges facing
today’s airline industry remain complex. We
are continually addressing assessed security
threats and risks to minimise vulnerability. The
application of risk-management principles,
innovation and a commitment to excellence
all contribute to creating an effective security
environment. A dedicated Qantas Group
Security Operations Centre monitors global
security 24 hours a day.
Many of our security measures are not
apparent to the public. However, during
check-in and boarding you may have noticed
security measures such as:
• Random explosive trace detection of
passengers and their carry-on luggage.
• Laptops and aerosols being subjected to
enhanced inspection at screening points.
• Increased vigilance at passenger screening
points and increased guarding of our
aircraft and terminals.
Further measures apply to flights to the
United States:
• Additional carry-on baggage searches just
prior to boarding.
• Random baggage searches at check-in
and boarding.
• Passengers selected at random for patdown
inspections, including the removal and
checking of shoes.
CARRY-ON BAGGAGE
Rules are needed to protect you from the
threat of liquid explosives. Liquids, aerosols
or gels in your carry-on baggage must be 100
millilitres/grams or less and must be sealed
in a transparent independently resealable,
one-litre plastic bag. You are only allowed
one plastic bag. You may still carry on board
prescription medicines. Baby products and
non-prescription medicines that you need for
the flight are also allowed. Proof of need may
be required. Please Note: These restrictions do
not apply to checked-in baggage.
SAFETY FIRST
Seatbelts must be fastened during take-off,
landing and when you are seated in case your
aircraft encounters turbulence. Luggage
must be stored in the overhead locker or
under the seat in front of you. The back of
your seat must be upright and the tray table
fastened when the aircraft is taking off and
landing. Please remain seated after landing
until you are invited to leave the aircraft.
Sleeping on the aircraft floor is not permitted.
Please read the safety instruction card in
your seat pocket, noting emergency exits
and location of life jackets. Please watch
90 JANUARY 2010
the safety demonstration prior to take-off.
In an emergency, the crew will give specific
instructions. They may speak assertively and
will require your cooperation.
SMOKING
Government regulations prohibit smoking on
all flights operated by Australian-registered
aircraft. There are smoke detectors in all
toilets and penalties for regulation breaches.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BLOOD
CIRCULATION AND MUSCLE
RELAXATION DURING FLIGHTS
If you have concerns about your health and
flying, Jetstar recommends you seek
medical advice before flying. When you’re
sitting upright and are inactive for a long
period, several things can happen:
• The central blood vessels in your legs can
be compressed, making it harder for the
blood to get back to your heart.
• Muscles can become tense, resulting
in backaches and a feeling of excessive
fatigue during and even after the flight.
• The normal body mechanism for returning
fluid to the heart can be inhibited and
gravity can cause fluid to collect in your feet,
resulting in swollen feet after a long flight.
• Some studies have concluded that
prolonged immobility may be a risk factor
in the formation of blood clots in the legs
– Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Particular
medical conditions may increase the risk
of formation of blood clots if associated
with prolonged immobility. Medical
research indicates that factors which may
give you an increased risk of DVT include:
• Personal or family history of DVT
• Recent surgery or injury, especially to the
lower limbs or abdomen
• Blood disorders leading to increased
clotting tendency
• If you are older than 40
• Oestrogen hormone therapy, including
oral contraceptives
• Pregnancy
• Tobacco smoking
• Former or current malignant disease
• Obesity
• Dehydration
• Heart problems
• Varicose veins
Compression stockings can assist in
preventing swelling of the ankles and feet
and they may improve the blood return
to the body from the lower legs. These
stockings can be purchased from medical
and surgical supply companies and
need to be individually fitted to your leg
measurements. During your flight, move
your legs and feet three or four minutes per
hour while seated and move about the cabin
occasionally.
CABIN PRESSURE
If you are suffering nasal congestion, an ear
infection or allergies, Jetstar recommends
seeking medical advice before flying.
A cold, flu or hay fever can impair your
sinuses. Swollen membranes in your nose
could block the Eustachian tubes between
your nasal passages and your middle ear
chamber. This can cause discomfort during
changes in cabin pressure, particularly
during the aircraft’s descent.
• To “clear” your ears, try swallowing and/or
yawning. This helps open your Eustachian
tubes, equalising the pressure between
your middle ear chamber and your throat.
• When you are flying with an infant, give
them a dummy or feed them during the
aircraft’s descent. Sucking and swallowing
will help the infant equalise the pressure in
their ears.
CABIN HUMIDITY / DEHYDRATION
Humidity levels of less than 25% are
common in the aircraft cabin. This is due
to the low humidity levels of the outside
air supplied to the cabin. Low humidity can
cause drying of the nose, throat and eyes
and it can irritate wearers of contact lenses.
We recommend that you:
• Drink water frequently during flight.
• Drink coffee, tea and alcohol only in
moderation – these drinks act as diuretics,
increasing dehydration.
• Remove contact lenses and wear glasses if
your eyes are irritated.
• Use a skin moisturiser to refresh the skin.
MOTION SICKNESS
This ailment is caused by a conflict between
the body’s senses of vision and equilibrium.
Air turbulence increases its likelihood
because it can cause movement of fluid in
the vestibular apparatus of the inner ear.
If you have good visual cues (keeping your
eyes fixed on a non-moving object), motion
sickness is less likely to occur.
JETSTAR SECURITY POLICY
Jetstar has a strict policy on denying
boarding to any passengers who are
inappropriate in flight or on ground in
comments or behaviour. Jetstar does not
accept any inappropriate comments as
“jokes”. All matters are referred to relevant
authorities for prosecution. Jetstar will seek
to recover all costs incurred as a result of
inflight incidents from those involved.
MORE INFORMATION ON IN-FLIGHT
HEALTH ISSUES CAN BE FOUND AT:
www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/InTheAir/
yourHealthInflight