In the US Army Airborne School, which trains parachute jumpers
for the Army, one of the Sergeants was demonstrating all of the possible failures
that could happen to the equipment. In particular, he was explaining how many
things could happen to keep the main parachute from opening. When one of the
trainees asked, "If my parachute fails to open, how long do I have to open
my reserve chute?"
"Son, you have the REST of your life to deploy that reserve!", the
sergeant drawled.