Good news! 4 Reasons Women are better survivors than men.

Last week's miraculous landing on the Hudson started a flurry of moms confessing to everything from a paralyzing fear of flying to an even more paralyzing fear of staying calm had they been on flight 1549,  especially with an infant in tow.  But according to my friend Ben Sherwood - who just wrote an incredible book called The Survivor's Club - we moms are finally getting a break - there's something that's actually easier (and better!) for us -  we have a much better shot at not only  surviving, but thriving in the face of adversity. 

Here are four reasons why:  

1) Women play it safer.  Especially in their younger years, more men die in accidents than women. More men are murdered than women.  More men commit suicide than women.  And during the "testosterone storm" (love this term!), men simply do dangerous things -- like play with guns. 

2) Women deal with pain.  Uh...yes we do!  We are more sensitive to pain but we handle it better.  (But I confess, I didn't hesitate to ask for the epidural before I reached the hospital with all three kids!)  According to one pain researcher, "With greater vulnerability comes greater strength."  Love that. 

3) Women are better drivers.  This one might stir up the men in the room -- but the numbers don't lie.  On average, men have a 77% greater risk of dying in a car accident. They also drive more recklessly and get more traffic violations. 

4) Women are just plain healthier.  When you look at the 15 leading causes of death, men outrank women (except for Alzheimers).  Women stay alive longer because they smoke and drink less.  They also eat better.  And the biggie -- they deal with stress better.

A note to the men in your lives - the female survival advantage has been eroding since the 1970s - with more women getting hooked on cigarettes.  But everyone - men and women alike - can immediately increase life expectancy with a few changes - eat right, exercise more, stop smoking and de-stress.  Easier said than done...but a good goal for 2009. 

Want to know more survival tips - like which seat on a plane is the safest?  Read the book and visit the new Survivors Club website. 

Also - take the Survivor's Club test to find out what kind of survivor you are -- I'm a connector!