How should you position your legs when jumping into the water to abandon ship?

• A. Extended straight down and crossed at the ankles.
• B. Bent knees and feet together
• C. Legs apart and body at right angle
• D. One leg in front of the other

Answer: (B)

When you abandon ship, the leg position you choose during water entry should minimize injury and keep you in a compact, controllable form. Bent knees and feet together create a small, streamlined package that absorbs impact more safely and reduces the chance of legs striking the hull, equipment, or another person. Keeping the legs together also prevents them from splaying and catching on lines or debris in the water. A compact entry helps you surface quickly and orient yourself, which is crucial in a chaotic abandon-ship scenario. Positions with extended or spread legs increase surface area, raise the risk of impact injuries, and can lead to entanglement or unsteady entry, so they are not as safe.