When cabin pressure drops, oxygen masks fall automatically from above your seat. At high altitude, if the fuselage gets damaged, air rushes out rapidly. Cabin pressure sensors instantly detect when air is escaping too fast. The sensor sends an emergency signal to release mechanisms in the ceiling. Heavy duty springs instantly push the mask assemblies downward and outward. Each mask hangs from flexible tubing that connects to the oxygen supply line. When you pull the mask toward your face, it triggers oxygen to start flowing. Behind the scenes, chemical cartridges generate oxygen through a chemical reaction. A heating element ignites the chemical inside the cartridge at extreme temperature. The burning fuel heats a special chemical compound called sodium chlorate. The heated compound breaks down and releases breathable oxygen gas directly. You breathe the oxygen through the rubber mask held against your face. Supplemental oxygen keeps your brain working clearly during the emergency descent. Chemical generators produce breathable oxygen long enough for pilots to descend safely.
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