Before you unpack, check the room.

Flight attendants can spend hundreds of nights a year in hotels, and some use a quick routine they call a “hotel room autopsy.” It takes roughly 90 seconds and helps them get familiar with the room before settling in.

Here’s what they look for:

• Scan the room first. Keep the door open while you take a quick look around and make sure everything appears normal.

• Check the places you wouldn’t think to check. Look behind curtains and inside the bathroom, shower, tub and closets.

• Know your way out. Find the emergency exit and study the evacuation map on the back of the door. Remember which direction you’d turn and roughly how far the stairs are.

• Test the locks. Check the door lock, deadbolt, security latch and windows.

• Make sure the room phone works. It’s a useful backup if your cellphone isn’t available. And if someone unexpectedly claims to be hotel staff, call the front desk to verify before opening the door.

• Bring one simple backup. A door wedge or portable alarm can add another layer of security, especially for solo travelers. A small flashlight is another surprisingly useful item.

The point isn’t to make you paranoid about hotels. It’s to know your room before you need to.

The smarter take: Your first 90 seconds in a hotel room can be more useful than your first 90 minutes unpacking. Find the exit, test the locks and get familiar with the space—then relax.