How to get out of a car that has fallen into water?

To safeguard

Written by Olivier Duquesne on 15-11-2021

It is undoubtedly one of the worst possible fears for car occupants: falling into the water with the vehicle. Above all, you should not panic and follow the following recommendations to get through this.

A car that plunges into water after losing control will not immediately plunge. But time will be running out to escape. And if unfortunately, the car is already submerged in the water, there is still a way to get out alive. Here’s how.

During contact with water , if you are conscious after the shock, here are the good reflexes to have:

• Don’t waste time calling for help, seconds are counted.
• Don’t panic and try to slow your breathing.
• Unfasten the seat belts as soon as the car comes into contact with water and roll down the window if the water has not yet reached window level. Evacuate children first, help weakened or injured people. As long as the car is not completely submerged, it is possible to take refuge on its roof to catch your breath before swimming.
• The battery can still work for a few minutes, so if the water has not yet reached the windows, try lowering the windows to escape this way, with your head at the top.
• Do not try to open the doors, you will accelerate the entry of water into the passenger compartment before sinking and once under water the pressure makes the exercise difficult, if not impossible, as long as the vehicle is not is not completely submerged and the passenger compartment filled with water!
• If it is not possible to open the windows and the vehicle begins to be submerged (which happens in less than a minute): remove your shoes and jacket, and empty your pockets of all heavy objects (key , phone). Then try to break a side window or the rear window (the windshield is very difficult to break) by protecting your hands and helping yourself with the pointed end of one of the front seat headrest rods. it is removable. Failing that, you can use a sharp wrench, a hammer, a stiletto heel, the wheel changing cross wrench, the fire extinguisher or your elbow. The top corner is the most fragile. Start hitting there.
• Have the children evacuate first, head upwards. Then join them and go back to the surface, looking towards it to avoid possible obstacles. Rely on the light or the path of the bubbles to find your way and follow the path of the water surface.
• Once on dry land, call for help. If you are too far from shore, try to find shelter on a floating object and make big gestures to get noticed.

If the vehicle is completely submerged after losing consciousness due to the impact or following the failure of the escape before the dive, here is what to do:

• Don’t panic and don’t try to call for help with your phone, it will be a waste of time, you will only have a few minutes to escape and return to the surface.
• Unlock the doors and, if the battery is still working, turn on the headlights to prepare for the arrival of possible help.
• Unbuckle your belt, remove your shoes, jacket and any heavy objects in your pockets.
• Wait until the passenger compartment is almost completely filled with water before attempting to open the doors. The pressure will equalize as the water rises in the passenger compartment. Opening may be difficult; you can also help yourself with your body and your feet or with another occupant of the vehicle.
• There is often a small air pocket left at the rear at roof level. It is not a safe place while waiting for possible help. The lifespan in this space cannot last more than 20 minutes. Use it only to catch your breath between each attempt to open the door.
• Once on dry land, call for help. If you are too far from shore, try to find shelter on a floating object and make big gestures to get noticed.