Car Underwater: Do you know how to Escape?
Living in Florida, we are surrounded by water. Many people drive over bridges every day and generally aren’t concerned about going over. But think, what if someone hits you, or your car becomes causality in another accident. You could easily be pushed over the side of the bridge, plummeting into the bay. Would you know how to escape?
There is a sequence of steps to take to get out of your sinking car:
- If you can, open your window as fast as you can before you hit the water, or immediately after you hit the water.
- Stay as still as you can and keep your seat belt on until the water has hit your chin. Then, take a deep breath and hold it.
- You probably won’t be able to open a door because of the pressure outside the car, but if you can, do. Many feel that the pressure inside and outside the car won’t equalize, letting you open the door in time, as shown below by the “Mythbusters”. He couldn’t open the door until after he had to use the emergency regulator to breathe.
- If you were not able to open a window before you hit the water, use a sharp tool, even the ends of your headrest, to break the window in the middle (the least integrity is in the middle). Having a window-breaking tool on hand is even better. Tip: Never try to break the windshield, it will be too thick
- Once a window is or door is open, unbuckle your seat belt, grab a hold of something to stabilize yourself, and get out of the submerged vehicle as fast as you can.
This video below is a great demonstration of the above steps visualized. Living in a state surrounded by water, it’s crucial to know these steps to getting out of a car underwater. Another car can easily cause an accident that leads to a submerged car.