Made ya look!

I got this from a book by Chip and Dan Heath, called 'Made To Stick. Why Some Ideas Die And Others Survive'. The authors explain that American flight attendants are required to make safety announcements before passenger planes take off. Everyone who's flown a plane knows the score: "sudden change in cabin pressure", "emergency exits in the front and back and over-wing".
Flight safety announcements are a tough message to bring, especially in such an environment. No one cares about what's communicated. The passengers don't and the flight attendant doesn't. Hearing a Republican explain why health insurance is not a good thing is fascinating by comparison.
A flight attendant named Karen Wood facing the challenge of giving the announcement said the following on a flight from Dallas to San Diego:

"If I could have your attention for a few moments, we sure would love to point out these safety features. If you haven't been in an automobile since 1965, the proper way to fasten you seat belt is to slide the flat end into the buckle. To unfasten, lift up on the buckle and it will release.
And as the song goes, there might be fifty ways to leave your lover, but there are only six ways to leave this aircraft: two forward exit doors, two over-wing removable window exits, and two after exit doors. The location of each exit is clearly marked with signs overhead, as well as red an white disco lights along the floor of the aisle.
Made ya look!"

When Karen wrapped up her announcement, scattered applause broke out. And if a well-designed message can make people applaud for a safety announcement, there's hope for all of us.

Source: 'Made To Stick. Why Some Ideas Die And Others Survive', Chip and Dan Heath

If you like this, buy the book