What is "ditch training" in the context of flight attendants?

Ditch training refers to the comprehensive preparation that flight attendants undergo to handle emergency situations involving water landings. This training covers critical skills and procedures that ensure the safety of passengers and crew when an aircraft must make a controlled descent into water. Participants learn how to utilize life vests, evacuation slides that can double as flotation devices, and various survival techniques necessary in such scenarios.

Understanding the specifics of ditch training is crucial in the aviation industry, as it equips flight attendants with the knowledge and confidence to manage real-life emergencies that may occur over large bodies of water. This training is vital for enhancing passenger safety and effective emergency response, particularly for flights operating over oceans or lakes.

In this context, the focus on emergency preparedness for water landings sets this training apart from options relating to first aid on land, turbulence management, or food and beverage service, which do not directly address survival skills in aquatic emergencies.