During evacuation, if a slide fails to inflate, what action should you take?

• A. Push the slide to inflate
• B. Pull red manual inflation handle
• C. Inform crew and exit
• D. Pull release pin

Answer: (B)

If a slide doesn’t inflate during an evacuation, you use the red manual inflation handle to activate the slide’s inflation system. This handhold is provided exactly for this backup scenario and, when pulled, starts the inflation process so passengers can safely exit. Pushing the slide to inflate isn’t how the system is designed to work and can cause injury or damage. The release pin is not the action to take in this situation; it’s used for arming/disarming or maintenance, not for manual inflation. While informing crew and continuing the evacuation is important, the immediate corrective step to enable safe egress is to pull the manual inflation handle.