How should you respond to smoke in the cabin during an evacuation?

• A. Open all doors immediately to vent smoke.
• B. Have passengers stay low, cover mouth/nose, and move toward the nearest exit while following crew commands.
• C. Ignore the smoke and continue evacuation as normal.
• D. Call medical staff to identify smoke inhalation risk.

Answer: (B)

In a cabin with smoke during an evacuation, the priority is to escape quickly while minimizing smoke inhalation. Smoke rises and becomes denser higher up, so staying low helps you breathe cleaner air near the floor. Covering your mouth and nose with a cloth reduces the amount of smoke you inhale and protects your airways from irritants. Move toward the nearest exit while following the crew’s commands to keep the evacuation orderly and fast. Opening doors to vent smoke can create dangerous air currents and disrupt the crew’s plan, making the situation worse for everyone. Ignoring the smoke or proceeding as if nothing is happening would put you at greater risk, and seeking medical staff during the evacuation isn’t the immediate step—exit safely first, then seek medical attention if you have symptoms.