I used to know the standard procedure for escaping from a “water landing” in my car, but that was back when I was driving a '71 VW Bug. Now that I drive a car with power windows, what’s the best way to escape the car if I land in deep water?
Wait until the water equalizes the pressure inside and out, then open the door. Power locks can still be opened by hand.
Also, you can break a window. But you will probably need a tool of some sort to do that. They sell little ice picky things that can break auto glass.
There are things that have a concealed razor for cutting seat belts at one end and a hammer for breaking windows at the other end. They’re small enough to fit into a glove compartment. Most auto parts stores should have them.
Your power windows should still be operational for several minutes after your car is submerged, assuming you haven’t turned your ignition key to “off”. If your car should become submerged, the first thing you should do is open a window while they’re still working, because you won’t be able to open a door due to the water pressure (at least, not until the car fills with water).
There was a great article in one of the auto mags (either Automobile or Car and Driver) a month or two ago written by someone who went to The Netherlands to take a one-day class on surviving a car submersion (apparently it’s a fairly common occurence there due to all the canals).
I watched a thing on this a year or two ago. Everyone else is correct (according to the experts I saw). Try to unroll your window immediately. If that fails, you must wait until your car is entirely filled with water, and then open your door. Two things: unlock your door, and undo your seatbelt. It seems obvious, but they said that when people panic, those are the two things that they forget to do. You do not want to be found in your car with the door open, but your seatbelt still done up. They had a reporter try to escape a car, with an oxygen tank on, and safety people everywhere, just after he’d had lessons on how to escape, and he initially forgot to undo his seatbelt.
After watching that report, I’ve thought about getting one of those thingies that break your window for you. Thingies. That’s the official term. Or, I could just keep a full sized hammer in my glove box.
First off DON’T PANIC (I miss Douglas Adams)! Panic is very often the underlying cause to many avoidable deaths. As a lifeguard I’ve seen (movies) of people drowning and their only problem is panic. Most people (especially typically overweight Americans) float naturally…you don’t need to know how to swim. If you have to take a second to chill then do it. Being a spaz won’t help anybody, least of all you.
Second, unbuckle your seatbelt.
Third, your power windows may still work when submerged. If they do then open them a bit to let water in. If your windows won’t open then you need to break them and you will almost certainly need a tool of some sort to help you (your bare fists or the soft sole of your shoe almost certainly won’t do the trick). If you don’t have a purpose built tool (which, as mentioned, costs a few bucks at most auto supply stores) then get anything hard. A nice metal watch or the buckle of your seatbelt might do the trick.
Letting water in your car may seem crazy but you will NOT be able to open your doors till the car cabin is mostly filled with water. As the water fills the cabin take several long, deep breaths (approaching hyperventilation) to super-oxygenate your blood (which will allow you to hold your breath longer…just try not to make yourself dizzy). Pull the door handle and lean into the door to open it. It won’t move at first but as your car fills the door will start to move.
Once open paddle out of the car and to the surface. No need to worry about the bends or anything in this case…just haul ass to the surface. If it is dark or you are disoriented it can be surprisingly easy to not know which way is up (sounds silly but I’ve been scuba diving at night and it can easily happen). If you are disoriented follow the bubbles. If you can’t see place your hand near your mouth and blow a few bubbles to figure out which way they are going. Follow those bubbles since they always know the way up.
Assuming you aren’t injured badly upon impact with the water and assuming you have a way to open your windows a water landing in a car is easily survivable.
I’m glad to know the windows will still work after I’ve hit water-- not sure whay I didn’t think of that earlier. I also hadn’t considered that I might crash into water at night. Yeeks. The bubbles tip is a good one; I learned something simular when I was getting my scuba license. Thanks all for the info. Hopefully none of us will ever need it!