How to escape from a car sinking in water

Steps to help escape from a car that is sinking in water

1. Remove the seat belt

Studies have shown that when a car hits water, it only has 30 to 120 seconds to escape before it begins to sink. This is a precious time to act to save lives.

Professor Gordon Giesbrecht, an expert in water survival, recommends that in the event of a car falling into water, you should:

- Quickly remove the seat belt.

- Open a window or, if necessary, break a glass door to create an escape route.

- Immediately leave the vehicle, prioritizing helping children get out first, then adults.

2. Glass doors are emergency exits

If the vehicle falls into water, the electrical system will only work for about 3 minutes. Immediately after removing the seat belt, roll down the window.

When the water level is too high, do not open the car door in the usual way by pulling the lock and pushing the door open because the water pressure will make the door very heavy and difficult to open.

Avoid opening the car door when water starts to enter to avoid causing the car to sink faster.

If you need to break a window to escape, only break the side windows. Do not break the front or rear windshield, as they are thicker and more difficult to break.

If you can't break the glass, wait until the water is up to your chest, take a deep breath and open the door when the car is full of water.

3. Get out

In case of emergency, when exiting a vehicle with children, open the window and take the children out first to ensure safety.

If the window cannot be opened, break the glass and prioritize helping children escape immediately.

Before exiting the vehicle, instruct your child to take deep breaths to get enough air.

If your child can swim, get him or her as high as possible; if not, find something floating for him or her to hold on to.

After leaving the vehicle, try to swim to the surface immediately and head towards the light or air bubbles to find a safe escape route.