7. Are there requirements for occupying seats in an emergency exit row?
Each airline must establish procedures to ensure that seats in an emergency exit row are not occupied by passengers whose presence in those seats could adversely affect the safety of passengers and crew members during an emergency.

Passengers seated at exits:

must be physically capable of using the exit;
must be capable of understanding the printed and spoken emergency instructions;
must be able to visually determine if the exit is safe to open;
must have sufficient mobility, strength and dexterity to reach, operate and stow (or otherwise dispose of) the emergency exit;
must be able to receive aural information from the crew and to orally communicate that information to other passengers;
must be of a minimum age (as established by the air operator) to ensure that he/she has the physical, cognitive and sensory capacity to operate an emergency exit;
must not be responsible for another person as this can hinder the opening of the emergency exit; and
must not have a condition that might cause them harm by opening the exit.

Federal regulations require that a Customer select a non-exit seat if he or she cannot or does not wish to perform the following functions:

Locate the emergency exit
Recognize the emergency exit opening mechanism
Comprehend the instructions for operating the emergency exit
Operate the emergency exit
Assess whether opening the emergency exit will increase the hazards to which passengers may be exposed
Follow oral directions and hand signals given by a crewmember
Secure the emergency exit window so that it will not impede use of the exit
Pass expeditiously through the emergency exit
Assess, select, and follow a safe path away from the emergency exit
In addition, to comply with federal regulations, a passenger seated in an exit seat must have sufficient mobility, strength or dexterity in both arms and hands and both legs to:
Reach upward, sideways, and downward to the location of emergency exit
Grasp and push, pull, turn, or otherwise manipulate mechanisms
Push, shove, pull or otherwise open the emergency exit
Lift out, hold, deposit on nearby seats, or maneuver over the seatbacks to the next row or out the opening objects the size and weight of overwing window exit doors.
Remove objects similar in size and weight to overwing exit windows
Reach the emergency exit expeditiously
Maintain balance while removing obstructions
Exit expeditiously
A passenger seated in an exit seat must:

be 15 years of age or older
have the capacity to perform the applicable functions without the assistance of an adult companion, parent, or other relative
have the ability to read and understand instructions related to emergency evacuation provided by Southwest in printed or graphic form
have the ability to understand oral crew commands
have sufficient visual capacity to perform applicable functions without the assistance of visual aids beyond contact lenses or eyeglasses
have sufficient aural capacity to hear and understand instructions shouted by Flight Attendants without assistance beyond a hearing aid
have the ability to adequately impart information orally to other passengers
A passenger seated in an exit seat must not:

have preboarded
require a seat belt extension to fasten his or her seat belt
have a condition or responsibilities, such as caring for small children, that might prevent them from performing the applicable functions
have a condition that might cause the person harm if he or she performs one or more of the applicable functions