It’s been on the news lately: recent accidents involving people getting stuck in submerged cars. Falling off a collapsed bridge, swerving off the road into a pond, or getting caught in a flash flood, these are just a few examples of how it can happen to anyone. Unfortunately, every year, around 350 to 400 people lose their lives due to car submersion accidents. That’s why you need to educate yourself and be prepared for the nightmare scenario of being stuck in a sinking car.
How to Escape a Sinking Car
The first thing you need to do the moment your car plunges into the water is to get out. You don’t want to wait until the car is completely underwater because it will be much harder to get out at that point. Don’t waste time calling for emergency services like 911. Just focus 100 percent on getting yourself out of the car.
AAA has developed an acronym known as SURE, which will help you remember the steps to take to escape a submerged car. There is a S-U-R-E way to get out! Here are the steps from AAA on how to get out of your submerged car.
S- Stay Calm
First thing first, stay calm. If your car is still afloat, you have around 30 seconds to escape your sinking car. You need to be calm and clear minded. Don’t let panic take over.
U- Unbuckle Your Seat Belt
As soon as your car plunges into the water, make sure to unfasten your seat belt quickly. If, for any reason, your seatbelt gets stuck, use the seatbelt cutter on your escape tool to free yourself.
R- Roll Down or Break the Window
Roll down the window as soon as possible even before the car is even submerged. Automatic windows should still function. Open the window and climb out of your car. You need to do it fast because your car will likely stay afloat for around 30 seconds or longer before it starts sinking. You need to act fast and get out while your car is still afloat.
If the window is stuck or won’t open, use your escape tool to break it. Do know that most escape tools can only break tempered glass and not laminated glass. That’s why it’s important to prepare in advance and know which windows in your car are tempered to break them. You will most likely need to break one of the side or back windows since the windshield is laminated.
If, for some reason, you can’t break the window, your last option is to find an air pocket and stay there. When all the air has left the car, the pressure inside and outside the car should be equalized. Then, you can open the door to escape.
E- Exit the Vehicle
Get out of your car ASAP. Crawl out of the window if your car is still floating. If your car is fully submerged, stay calm. The water will be dark, cold and murky so you will be disoriented and won’t know which way is up. Don’t worry, just follow your body, and you will float up to the surface. If you have kids in the car, help them out first.
You need to act fast and be clear-minded. Your goal is to get out of the car. There is no time to call for help; by then, it will be too late. You need to help yourself get out of the car ASAP.
Things to Do Ahead of Time
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Find Out Which Windows are Tempered
It’s important to know which windows in your car are tempered in case of an emergency. You can find out by checking the window label, usually located in the bottom corner. The label will indicate if the window is laminated or tempered. Make a note of which windows are tempered so you’ll know which ones to break.
If you can’t find the label, you can contact the car manufacturer to find out which windows are tempered. Every car model is different, so some cars will have a combination of tempered and laminated windows. Remember, you want to break the tempered window.
According to AAA research, escape tools won’t break laminated windows. The escape tools may succeed in cracking the glass but the laminated coating on the glass is too strong, and the window won’t shatter. That’s why it’s important to know which windows in your car are tempered so you don’t waste precious time breaking the wrong windows!
Buy an Escape Tool
There are two types of escape tools that you can buy to break a car window in case of an emergency. The first type is a hammer-type escape tool, and the second type is a spring-loaded escape tool.
Each of these tools has its own pros and cons. For example, the hammer-type escape tool can be difficult to use when you are underwater in a submerged car. On the other hand, the spring-loaded escape tool might malfunction, and the spring might jam.
To be on the safe side, I keep both types of escape tools in my car – a hammer-type escape tool and a spring-loaded escape tool. They both come with a seat belt cutter blade that can help cut your seat belt if needed.
Another reason why I keep 2 escape tools in my car is because I rarely drive alone and usually have my kids with me. In the event of an emergency, the last thing I want is for us to be waiting for our turn to cut our seat belts. Every second counts!
Be Familiar with Your Escape Tool
You need to familiarize yourself with your escape tool by testing it to see if it’s working properly.
According to AAA, test your escape tool on materials like wood or plastic. The tool works if it leaves a small indent on the material at impact.
Keep Your Escape Tool Where It’s Accessible
It’s important to have your escape tool readily accessible in the event of an emergency. A spring-loaded tool usually comes as a keychain and can easily be attached to your purse. For hammer-type escape tools, a plastic mount can be attached to the driver’s side pocket. This way, you’ll always have quick access to your escape tool when you need it most.