What instruction should be emphasized when oxygen masks fail to deploy?

In the event that oxygen masks fail to deploy, emphasizing the instruction to open the panel by prying or hitting is crucial for ensuring passenger safety. This action is important because the deployment mechanism can sometimes become jammed or malfunction, and users need to be proactive in addressing the issue. By opening the panel manually, passengers may be able to access the masks and secure oxygen more quickly, which can be vital in emergencies where oxygen availability is limited.

Other options, while they may exhibit a certain level of safety awareness, do not facilitate a prompt resolution for obtaining oxygen in a critical situation. Staying seated and not panicking may provide a level of composure but doesn’t solve the immediate problem. Likewise, asking for assistance or waiting for crew members can delay access to oxygen, which is not advisable in an emergency where time is of the essence. Thus, the emphasis should be placed on the action that directly addresses the problem of non-deploying oxygen masks.