Recurrent Training is Currently Draining

I just rolled in the door from my first ever day of recurrent training. We spent the day saving lives in countless ways: evacuation commands during an emergency landing, putting out a lithium battery fire, physically restraining an abusive passenger, evacuating passengers during an overwater ditching, administering CPR to a non-responsive, non-breathing adult, manually releasing oxygen masks from the overhead compartments, "playing with" every piece of emergency equipment on the plane, and even defending ourselves against assault using necessary physical force.

In between all of these, we reviewed how to communicate best with the flight crew, how to evaluate and remove a possibly intoxicted passenger, and how to de-escalate situations with upset and possibly angry passengers.

And to round out our day, we learned what we can do to increase sales of our on-board purchase items.

It was an incredibly adrenalin filled day, but it was really good to review the real reason we are present on those planes. When the poop hits the fan, I am not there to make sure you get a turkey salad or to help you move passengers around so your whole family can sit together. I'm there to make sure you (and everyone else) gets out safely if we have the unthinkable emergency. And thanks to our training, and days like today, I can. And so can my esteemed colleagues. ::pause to pat myself on the back:: I'm old and busted and tired, but I rock!