How to Escape From a Car in the Water

In the unlikely event that your car ends up in the water, it's important for you to stay calm and act fast.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Don't panic.

2. Get out before the car goes under.

3. Open the window quickly, if you can't get out fast enough. The idea here is to get the pressure inside the car equal to the pressure outside the car. Water exerts greater pressure than air, and if you are in a car full of air, you'll never get a door open. You won't be able to get the door open easily, but you can likely climb out the window.

4. Break the glass if you can't open the window - kick or smash a heavy object against it.

5. Recognize that whichever end of the car the engine is in will sink faster. The depth and current of the water may cause the car to flip over on its roof.

6. Leave your valuables. They'll probably still be there when your car is recovered.

Tips & Warnings

• Air will escape the car from all kinds of places. Don't rely on surviving by breathing inside that air bubble you see in the movies.

[terryandsummer]

on 1/23/2007 In the community in which I live, we just had a young girl and her grandmother crash their car into the Tuscarawas River. Witnesses tried to help but the water was so frigid and the current was strong. The young girl and grandma couldn't be saved after brave attempts from community members. I just bought a Life Hammer 2 days after this tragic event. Just look up Life Hammer on the web. Maybe this could have saved their lives. I don't know.

on 6/30/2006 SCUBA divers need to vent air during an emergency surface because they are breathing compressed air which has actually been forced into their lungs by a regulator. This compressed air, if not vented, will expand as water pressure decreases and damage the lungs. Someone trapped in a car would not need to vent their lungs on surfacing as the air from the surface, or in the car is not compressed.

on 6/30/2006 Remember to carry a knife, in case you have to cut the seatbelt or anything else that might be a problem.

on 6/30/2006 This is just something I do. If going over water on a bridge, I have my hand on my seatbelt latch ready to undo it and I put one hand on the electric window button to lower it, just in case something should happen.

on 11/22/2005 If you are trapped inside of a car that sinks into deep water, remember to slowly release air while you are surfacing. Failure to do so may result in injuries to your lungs.