[header] How to survive if your parachute fails to open [title] Get in the breakaway position. [step] If your main parachute is malfunctioning or has become tangled, it's important that you can break away from it before deploying your reserve or else the reserve parachute may become tangled. To get in the breakaway position, spread your legs to reduce your velocity and keep your head up with your back arched. 
[substeps] Being in the wrong position could get you entangled in your main chute. You must break away at a minimum of 1 , 600 feet to allow you enough time to fully deploy your reserve.