Originally Posted by Greenpen

The saftey video covering the oxygen masks tell you to put your own mask on before helping others, but then shows a parent putting on her own mask before helping her child. I presume that the idea of putting on your own mask first is to try to ensure you do not go unconscious and hence be unable to help others.

However, there cannot be a parent in existence who would not try to get their child's mask on first in the event of an emergency. Indeed, I would expect many adults unrelated to a child sitting next to them would try to help the child first.

(I noticed that Qantas and Virgin Blue safty instructions take exactly the same approach and show the parent putting on their own mask and getting comfortable before dealing with their child.)

I suppose what we are getting is a quick general instruction about safety rather than anything approaching serious, albeit brief, training. I guess if the video and instructions were longer then fewer would take note of it.