4 escape skills when car falls into water

This is not a common type of accident, but it is always a good idea to be safe. Here are some tips that will help you if you are ever in a similar situation.

1. Correct steering wheel position

Learn how to hold the steering wheel correctly: 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. This is not only important to help you steer correctly, but more importantly, before and during the car falling into the water, the impacts can cause the airbag system to activate and if you place your hands incorrectly, for example at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions, when the airbag explodes at a fairly high speed, you will hit your head (within 0.04 seconds the air pump will inflate the airbag). Try to stay calm, breathe evenly, focus on the question: What to do to get out, instead of panicking and screaming.

2. Remove the seat belt

In water-related accidents, some believe that the important factors are arranged in order: Remove the seat belt, pay attention to children, open the window, get out (according to Professor Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht - Expert in underwater emergencies). This viewpoint mentions giving priority to children first, then those who are able to help others.

3. The exit is the glass door

According to actual research in the US, when a car falls into water, the car's electrical system can still operate for a maximum of 3 minutes before it sinks completely. This is extremely important, think about opening the windows (or sunroof if available) to escape, do not try to open the doors because this can submerge the car and the passengers in the back seat because the water gets into the car faster and drags the car deeper faster.

In addition, opening the main door is not simple, because the pressure of tons of water around will squeeze the door (until the pressure inside/outside the car - that is, the water has filled the inside of the car). This is also the reason why some high-end cars have a safety system that automatically opens the windows when detecting the car is flooded (in 2008, among dozens of luxury cars, including a Japanese car at the C6 My Dinh 1 apartment building, the windows automatically lowered when rainwater flooded the parking basement).

In case the electrical system cannot open the window, you should use heavy objects with sharp tips to break the windshield; a lock, pliers, screwdriver, use your heel, even high heels... A specialized hammer is the optimal solution (currently priced at only about 100,000 VND, including the function of cutting seat belts, flashlight, phone charger...). You should break the side or rear window, because the windshield is always the safest with many layers of adhesive with specialized glue.

If you cannot break the window, calmly wait for the water level to reach your chest, then take a deep breath of air, wait until the water is fully inside the car (pressure is equal between inside and outside) and then open the door to escape. In this case, try to keep your hand on the door lock so that you are ready to open it when the time comes to open the door.

4. How to orient?

When breaking a window, the first thing to do is to get the children out first. Before you get out, you should signal the children to take a deep breath of air before getting out. If the child can 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 get out, and try to get them to the surface with you.

When escaping from a car, the first thing you should do is to get to the surface as soon as possible; but if you are disoriented, what is the solution? Swim towards the light or simply follow the rising air bubbles.