Cabin attendants have many things to do when the plane is in flight. Their job is to look after the comfort and safety of the passengers during the flight. They are also called cabin or flight attendants, stewardesses and stewards. Passenger safety is the main job of cabin attendants. They must make sure the passengers are sitting safely. The things passengers bring on the plane with them must be put away safely so that they will not slide around during the flight. If the plane should move or turn suddenly, a loose object could hit and injure someone. Before the flight begins, the cabin attendants tell the passengers: “Please stow all hand or carry-on luggage under the seat in front of you or in the overhead compartment.” The things passengers bring aboard the plane are called hand or carry-on baggage. “To stow” means to put away. Carry-on luggage can fit either under the seat or in a special compartment (enclosed space) above the seats over the heads of the passengers. Cabin attendants must make sure these compartments are closed properly during the flight. En route, the cabin attendants serve food and beverages (drinks) to the passengers. This keeps the attendants busy and on their feet during most of the flight. On a flight of five hours or more , the attendants walk between 10 and 15 miles—or 16 to 24 kilometers—as part of their job. Their duties also include welcoming the passengers aboard the airliner and helping them to find their seats. A cabin attendant must show the passengers where the emergency exits are and explain how to use the oxygen masks. The cabin attendants also give out pillows and blankets to help make passengers comfortable. They give passengers magazines to read. They must be able to answer questions about the times of flights and the services of the airline. Cabin attendants must learn about the safety equipment of the airplane in which they are flying. They must know how to get passengers out quickly and safely if there should be an accident. And, most important, they must be able to keep the passengers calm in an emergency. All cabin attendants must be able to give first-aid. This is the help that is given to a sick or hurt person before regular medical treatment from a doctor can be obtained. Such treatment can often save a person’s life if it is given quickly. Learning to give first-aid is an important part of a cabin attendant’s training. A cabin attendant says, “What I’m doing is an interesting job, and we meet many interesting people. We get to see different places. But it’s not all fun. We live out of suitcases, and we serve hundreds of meals each day. A cabin attendant has to enjoy taking care of and serving people is not easy. But we have to stay calm and pleasant all the time. This is especially important when bad weather makes a flight rough or bumpy, when a plane is late, or when there is an emergency.” Another cabin attendant adds, “Passengers spend more time with cabin attendants than with any other airline employee. The service the passengers receive on board the plane determines whether or not they will fly again on one of our airplanes. We want them to continue to be customers of our airline. So it is important that we give them good and courteous service.”