>[!abstract]
>The "Birkenhead drill" refers to the protocol of "women and children first," a code of conduct where the most vulnerable are prioritized for survival in a crisis, exemplified by the 1852 sinking of the British troopship HMS Birkenhead. After the Birkenhead struck a submerged rock, the soldiers on board stood their ground in orderly ranks while women and children were placed in the limited lifeboats, establishing a tradition of self-sacrifice and discipline that became a famous example of the principle.
>[!related]
>- **North** (upstream): [[Maritime safety]]
>- **West** (similar): [[Chivalry]]
>- **East** (different): [[Every man for himself]]
>- **South** (downstream): [[Lifeboat ethics]]