This archive report was first published on 2 October 2019.
When a car sinks, the rate of survival is high if you can escape within 60 seconds. Experts agree that it's easier to break out while the car is floating on the surface, but you should avoid opening the door as water will flood in.
According to the New York Times, published on October 2, 2019, once the car is full of water, it will sink fast.
Another critical mistake to avoid is trying to call for help using your phone. Search and recovery specialists emphasize that you must save yourself.
Robert May, an instructor for 911 dispatchers and the Indiana State Police Underwater team, warns, 'If you get on your phone and call your parents, or your sister, or 911, you will die.'
May's advice is to prioritize your safety and follow these steps:
- Unbuckle your seatbelt
- Open or break the driver's window
- Attend to children first, unfastening them from their seat and pulling them out into the front
- Push the children out through your window, starting with the oldest
- Climb out
It's also essential to keep a small glass-breaking tool on your key ring or hanging from the rearview mirror, as electric car windows still work after impact with water.
Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht from the University of Manitoba advises against trying to break the windshield, as the front of the car is generally the heaviest and sinks first.
