4 survival skills when a car falls and sinks into water.

This isn't a common type of accident, but equipping yourself with safety knowledge is never a bad idea. Some of the skills below will be very useful if you unfortunately encounter a similar situation.

1. Correct steering wheel position

Learn how to hold the steering wheel correctly: the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. This is not only important for proper steering, but more importantly, before and during a fall into the water, impacts can trigger the airbag system, and if you position your hands incorrectly, for example at the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions, the airbag deploying at a considerable speed could cause you to hit your head (the inflators inflate the airbag within 0.04 seconds). Try to stay calm, breathe evenly, and focus on the question: What do I do to get out, instead of panicking and screaming.

2. Unbuckle your seatbelt.

In water-driving accidents, some argue that the most important actions should be taken in the following order: unbuckling seatbelts, attending to children, opening windows, and exiting (according to Professor Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, an expert in underwater emergencies). This perspective emphasizes prioritizing children first, followed by those capable of assisting others.

3. The exit is a glass door.

According to research conducted in the US, when a car falls into water, its electrical system will only function for a maximum of 3 minutes before it completely sinks. This is extremely important; think about opening the windows (or sunroof if available) to escape. Do not attempt to open the doors, as this could submerge the car and its passengers because water enters the vehicle more quickly and pulls it down to deeper water faster.

Furthermore, opening the main door is not simple either, as the pressure of tons of water surrounding it will tightly seal the door (until the pressure inside/outside the car equals that the car is completely filled with water). This is also why some high-end cars have safety systems that automatically open the windows when they detect that the car is flooded (in 2008, among dozens of luxury cars, including a Japanese car, at the C6 My Dinh 1 apartment complex, the windows automatically lowered when rainwater flooded the parking garage).

If the electric window system fails to open the windows, use heavy objects with sharp points to break the windshield; a lock, pliers, screwdriver, your heel, even your high heels… A specialized hammer is the best option (currently priced at just over 100,000 VND, including functions like seatbelt cutter, flashlight, and phone charger…). It's best to break the side or rear windows, as the windshield is always the safest due to multiple layers of specialized adhesive.

If you can't break the window, calmly wait for the water level to reach your chest, then take a deep breath of air. Wait until the car is completely filled (pressure equalizes inside and outside) before opening the door to escape. In this case, try to keep your hand on the door lock so you're ready to open it when you can.

4. How do you find direction?

When breaking a window, the first thing to do is get the children out. Before escaping, you should signal for the children to take a deep breath of air. If the child knows how to swim, try to get them as high as possible; if not, try to get them to hold onto something that can float before getting out, then you escape, and try to get the child to the surface with you.

When you get out of the car, the first thing you need to do is find a way to surface as quickly as possible; but if you're disoriented, what's the solution? Swim towards the light or simply follow the direction of the bubbles rising to the surface.