If oxygen masks deploy suddenly during cruise, what is your immediate priority?

The immediate priority when oxygen masks deploy suddenly during cruise is to take oxygen from the nearest oxygen mask. This is crucial because the sudden loss of cabin pressure can result in hypoxia, which is a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues. It affects a person's ability to think clearly and react efficiently. By securing oxygen for oneself first, it ensures that you are able to remain conscious and capable of assisting others, if needed.

The other choices may seem necessary for overall safety, but they cannot take priority over the immediate need for oxygen in a critical situation. Checking on other passengers, notifying the flight deck, or calming passengers are important actions that can be taken once personal safety is secured by using the oxygen mask. In an emergency, ensuring that you have the necessary resources to breathe is the first step to effectively managing the situation.