Age -- Why is manditory retirement such a bad idea? It works for Pilots, Policemen, Firemen, and other saftey related people. The facts are that reflexes slow as you age. The other option (or maybe both) would be to require a physician sign off (aka Medical Cert) for flight attendents, much like Piolets -- but again, you cant get a Class III medical cert (required for commercial pilots) after 60.

Selection -- I don't know the answer to this, but I doubt that FA's a routinely screened for mental health issues -- pilots, firefighters, etc. are. In some cases every 6 months.

Saftey Training -- Know your aircraft, know the passengers, and know your saftey equipment. How about requiring all FA's to be an RN or paramedic? This would go a lot further into the saftey aspects than other issues. I can't tell you, as someone who regularly travels with physicians, how helpless many FA's seem to be at the sight of an actual heart attack, spiking fever, asthma attack, or other medical emergency.

I really don't mean to upset anyone (but probably will), but the FA's as currently contemplated by the airlines are service people first, their saftey aspects take a back seat to both the airline and the union. I used to wait tables -- and I have no problem with people choosing to be in a service industry; however, don't kid yourself. The hiring process and employment goals of FA's would have to be totally revamped for them to become dedicated saftey personnel in a true sense.