\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Is that true? Vehicle submersions have one of the highest fatality rates of any type of single-motor-vehicle incidents, responsible for some 400 deaths a year in North America. Informative, with points about the pros and cons of different thinking when in this, "I'm glad that I came across this article. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. “If you get on your phone and call your parents, or your sister, or 911, you will die,” says Robert May, a 21-year veteran of the Indiana State Police Underwater Search and Recovery Team. Car accidents are very scary and at times fatal. Opening a door will be next to impossible; as long as there is air inside the car, water pressure will hold the doors closed. Transcript for How to Escape a Sinking Car: 4 Simple Steps This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate. Exit the vehicle and swim to safety Always exit the vehicle through the window closest to you. Autoblog Staff. If you can't break the windows, try to open the door. On average, you’ll have 30-120 seconds of float time before the car sinks. If you can see outside, and you are positive that the car is nowhere near halfway submerged, turn on the engine. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. It could be a wrong turn that get you plunging into the river or pond, or a hit from other vehicle that throw you off the bridge. [17] And the 22-year-old student managed a feat that pilots and military personnel take hours of specialized training to perfect: She escaped her sinking car, swam to safety and survived. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Even under water you should be able to break a side window. The car's top land speed is 120 km/h (75 mph). Making a call will take up precious seconds and reduce your chances of escaping. Equip each passenger with a spring-loaded rescue tool; 5.2 2. Start with the oldest to the youngest; 6.3 3. Still, keep a small glass-breaking tool on your key ring or hanging from the rearview mirror, just in case. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. ", gives step-by-step info for what steps to take. Do your best to avoid injuring yourself on obstacles, and use branches, supports, and other items to cling to if you're injured or exhausted. How to Escape From Your Car Underwater September 5, 2019 September 2, 2019 Varda Meyers Epstein. There are 19 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. To learn how to escape a sinking car once it's filled with water, scroll down. By. This article has been viewed 1,158,426 times. If exiting via an open door, place your hand on the door latch. I hope to get this piece on the news. What if the car is being swept away in a fast moving flood? Contrary to popular belief, Mythbusters found that automatic windows don’t immediately short circuit underwater. How to Escape Car That's Underwater September 24, 2009 / 11:02 AM / CBS Of the 10 deaths this week from flooding in Georgia and Alabama, … This is … door until the car is nearly full of water, which equalizes the pressure. Unbuckle your seatbelt, lower your window and climb out, ideally onto the roof of the vehicle. Move quickly. Use a teddy bear hold which is like carrying a person in a hug until you reach the surface. More importantly, you will have to stay clam and focused because if you panic, you … This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. How to Escape a Car in an Emergency It’s a situation that can send even the most cool-headed drivers into a state of panic: you’re in an accident, and you can’t escape from your car. A crane was used to remove Stephanie King's car from the Tweed River. ", "This is my biggest fear. Simply put, the window is your best chance for escape. Trying to escape from an underwater car loan can be incredibly stressful. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. You’ve only got a few minutes to take action and escape your sinking vehicle. Join the fastest-growing online community for car enthusiasts for in-depth discussions, quick chats, photo sharing and more. Living in a state surrounded by water, it’s crucial to know these steps to getting out of a car underwater. This will create a bowl of ice that is shaped like a tire, which will make it nearly impossible to escape. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Now I feel more secure because I. Google “Escape Tip” to learn more. Even if you take a deep breath and manage not to panic, you can only go without breathing for about three to five minutes, but that’s not even the biggest concern; soon, the pressure from the water will make escape … I am planning on purchasing the tool to assist with breaking the window, "I think it is excellent advice that everyone must read. Crash escape tools and hammers promise to help you break out of your car if you were suddenly submerged, but do they really work? Some people involved in these accidents survive, some, unfortunately do not. Another car can easily cause an accident that leads to a submerged car. Also, S-C-W-O. Sometimes, he says, victims die in water shallow enough to stand in. As the vehicle begins to fill with water, the first exit to try is through a window. Try to escape by kicking out one of the side windows. Do not worry about trying to save your purse, your wallet, or any other personal items; survival is the name of the game. Remember that everything is unnecessary in this situation except your life and the lives of those around you. While letting the car fill with water may be a scary concept, having the glass implode into the car may be more dangerous than the water. Unbuckle your seatbelt immediately after entering the water, open or break a window, and get yourself and any other passengers out—starting with any children. This causes serious injuries, which could make the escape from the immersed vehicle extremely difficult or even impossible. The car's top land speed is 120 km/h (75 mph). Adam Savage devises a small-scale pressure test before attempting his Underwater Car Escape. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Switch on all the cars lights (if they still work) to help rescuers see where you are. The vehicle can transport a driver and passenger in its open cockpit. % of people told us that this article helped them. Escape from a sinking car . The pressure from the water will make it difficult to do so, and it will increase the amount of water entering the vehicle, causing it to submerge faster. ", Someday, somewhere, this is good to save somebody's life. Loved all of the details! Stay calm. If a car falls into the water and becomes submerged, you cannot open the door until the interior is flooded. Keep your mouth closed to preserve your breath and to prevent water from entering. If the car is submerged, you may need to wait for the car to fill with water before breaking the glass. For more details on escaping a sinking car, check out this post. Let the wheels spin for about ten seconds. It takes 60 to 120 seconds (1 to 2 minutes) for a car to fill up with water. However, car safety experts now advise waiting to unbuckle children until after the window is open or broken. Transcript for How to Escape a Sinking Car: 4 Simple Steps This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate. If you’re alone in a remote, dark area, the anxiety can really build. For every foot you descend towards Davey Jones' Locker, 850 pounds of pressure are being exerted on your car door, making the simple act of opening it and exiting an impossibility at the worst possible time. ", when they were trapped in flooded cars. I'm getting a Life Hammer for friends & relatives this Christmas. The List #0147: Escape a Car Underwater Would you know what to do if your car crashed into the sea and began to sink? [4] (Seatbelts off, Window open or broken, Out (Children First)) protocol developed by car safety expert Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht. Jessi and Patrick brave frigid waters to learn how to escape a car when it takes the plunge. Cats can swim. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/15\/Escape-from-a-Sinking-Car-Step-2-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Escape-from-a-Sinking-Car-Step-2-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/15\/Escape-from-a-Sinking-Car-Step-2-Version-3.jpg\/aid55939-v4-728px-Escape-from-a-Sinking-Car-Step-2-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"