Any car accident is frightening, but an accident in which your
vehicle is thrown into the water, with you trapped inside, is
absolutely terrifying. Such accidents are particularly dangerous
due to the risk of drowning, but the fact is that most deaths that
occur from being trapped in a sinking vehicle are avoidable. Escape
usually requires only a cool head, a little know-how and,
sometimes, patience.
Steps
- Brace yourself for impact. If you know you are
going off the road and into a body of water such as a river or even
off a higher structure such as a pier adopt a brace position by
placing both hands on opposite sides of your head, making an "X"
with your arms and letting the outside arm/ hand grab the shoulder
belt. While the impact injuries may not be fatal, the flailing
injuries can injure your hands or arms, reducing your ability to
open windows or doors and egress.
- Remain calm. The preceding events will no
doubt get your adrenaline pumping, but don't panic. You must move
quickly and effectively to ensure your survival. Take a few breaths
to calm yourself down, but don't spend more than about 2 seconds
doing this.
- Is the car floating? Then quickly move to unlock the
door or open the window. If there is still time, get
yourself out before the water starts to pour in.
- If the car is sinking rapidly, you will have
to wait until the car interior floods to open windows or doors, as
the water pressure against both doors & windows is greater than
the window handle or electric window can handle. While most people
believe that electric windows will short out, even sea water will
not interfere with a cars electrical system for at least several
minutes, allowing you to use the electric window motors.
- If the water is starting to approach the window, get the
windows open and let the water pour in. KEEP YOUR SEATBELT
ON. This is very counterintuitive, however if you
instinctively release your seatbelt, you have no leverage to open
doors and may, due to underwater disorientation, end up moving away
from the window or door opening. Several tons of water will enter
the car cabin. You cannot egress through this ingress of water and
if you release your seatbelt the water entry will move you away
from your seat by the window.
- While you can see it, place your outside hand (the hand closest
to the door / window) on the door latch or window lever / switch.
If you are underwater and unable to see, use physical reference by
starting your outside hand from your hip, feeling along until you
locate the latch. Try this sometime with your eyes closed, before
you end up underwater
- Once the car has flooded, put the hand closest to the
window on the window frame, and with your inside hand, release your
seatbelt. Remember it will be down by your hip on the
right side (left for our British friends). The buckle is smooth and
the re
