How to Get Out of a Sinking Car Alive

In light of the recent accident where an Arlington Heights man drowned in a submerged vehicle, Patch.com provides you with information on what steps you can take if you are ever in the same situation. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), roughly 400 people each year die from drowning in vehicles. 

Popular Mechanics states there are rules you can follow to increase your chances for survival-beginning the second you and your car end up in a body of water. The overarching theme throughout is that time is of the essence:

1. Do not make calls from your cell phone. Instead, focus on taking steps to get out of the vehicle alive. Experts say you have between 30 seconds and a minute before chances of survival diminish exponentially.
2. Unbuckle your seat belts.
3. Do not open doors, because that will speed up the sinking process. Instead, unlock the doors and roll down the windows. [you have about a 30-second floating period before water pressure will prevent you from doing this]. If/when your car’s electrical system has already shorted out and you cannot roll down windows, you can break the window with either aLifeHammer or a ResQMe key chain.
4. If the windows cannot be rolled down or broken, you must wait until the car fills with water, take a deep breath and then open the door to get out. You should be able to do this, because water pressure inside and outside of the car will be equalized. The key is to remain calm.
5. Evacuation: Get the oldest children out first by pushing them out of the vehicle and then tend to the youngest, who you will likely need to carry with you.