Trapped, in a car, underwater. What to do?

evearael · May 4, 2006

It's scary that no one appeared to know this.

It's the reason my parents only buy vehicles with the old fashioned non-electric cranks to roll down the windows.

finalfrogo · May 4, 2006

divine said:
nobody said how deep the water is.

so i'll just assume it's a meter or two deep...i'm sure i wouldn't have any problems swimming to the surface.

how do i get out of the car? catapult chair. what, you don't have one?

:biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh:

finalfrogo · May 4, 2006

angellous_evangellous said:
It's scary that no one appeared to know this.

Heh, I knew it... I already asked somebody today what should really be done. I was just curious as to what people would say.

angellous_evangellous · May 4, 2006

finalfrogo said:
I already asked somebody today what should really be done.

Runt · May 5, 2006

It's scary that no one appeared to know this.

*Looks at the picture*

*Looks at her last post*

*Looks back at the picture*

...

angellous_evangellous · May 5, 2006

Runt said:
Die, probably.

I'd try to get my seatbelt off, wait for water to fill the car so the pressure is equal, THEN try to break the window. And hope I don't cut myself and bleed to death before I get free.

Breaking the window under water is condiserably more difficult than rolling the windows down as you're sinking. If you're completely underwater with the windows up, you're pretty much dead IMHO.

michel · May 5, 2006

evearael said:
Roll the windows down and swim to safety.

That is not always possible........electric windows ?

There is actually a little heavy hammer here, which is sold to keep in the car for that eventuality.

Todd · May 5, 2006

angellous_evangellous said:
Breaking the window under water is condiserably more difficult than rolling the windows down as you're sinking. If you're completely underwater with the windows up, you're pretty much dead IMHO.

Studies have shown that the cars electric systems (including electric windows) can function up to hours after a car sinks. Saw this on the discovery channel.

Regardless of this, I would roll down the window as soon as the car hit the water (that is if I remain conscious from the impact). I'd then unbuckle my seatbelt and hopefully get out before the water get's up to the window (wishful thinking).

Todd · May 5, 2006

michel said:
That is not always possible........electric windows ?

There is actually a little heavy hammer here, which is sold to keep in the car for that eventuality.

Yep. That's a cool tool. It's like a little punch tool that requires very little force to shatter the window.

Green Gaia · May 5, 2006

I think I could get myself out - what scares me when I think about this scenario is how would I get both of my kids out (one still in a child's seat) and to safety?

angellous_evangellous · May 5, 2006

Maize said:
I think I could get myself out - what scares me when I think about this scenario is how would I get both of my kids out (one still in a child's seat) and to safety?

The best thing to do is just to drive carefully.

Green Gaia · May 5, 2006

angellous_evangellous said:
The best thing to do is just to drive carefully.

True! But it never hurts to be prepared.

I was friggin' insane when I my son was an infant and we'd be home alone at night. I was afraid of a house fire

so I kept my keys, a diaper bag with baby stuff and my wallet and some easy slip on shoes by the front door and I would sleep in my clothes so we could run out quickly.

I'm not quite that crazy anymore, but I do think it's wise to think about how you would handle situations before they happen so you don't have to figure it out while it's happening.

Linus · May 5, 2006

finalfrogo said:
If you were trapped in a car underwater, what would you do?

It depends. If the windows were manual, I would try to roll them down and swim out that way. If they were electric they would probably short out, so I might have to try and break them. Other than that, I'm not sure. Maybe wait till I could open the door and try to swim out that way.

Have you ever read a book called Worst Case Scenario? It describes, step by step, what you should do in various, random life-threatening circumstances. I can't remember if it talks about this one or not...

angellous_evangellous · May 5, 2006

Linus said:
It depends. If the windows were manual, I would try to roll them down and swim out that way. If they were electric they would probably short out, so I might have to try and break them. Other than that, I'm not sure. Maybe wait till I could open the door and try to swim out that way.

Have you ever read a book called Worst Case Scenario? It describes, step by step, what you should do in various, random life-threatening circumstances. I can't remember if it talks about this one or not...

Read the thread, Linus! :bonk:

lol

Runt · May 5, 2006

angellous_evangellous said:
Breaking the window under water is condiserably more difficult than rolling the windows down as you're sinking. If you're completely underwater with the windows up, you're pretty much dead IMHO.

Yes, but the question didn't ask what I'd do if the car were sinking. It asked what I'd do if I were trapped in a car that was already underwater. And remember, I did admit that I'd probably die. I just wouldn't die without a fight, lol.Knockout

Shadow Wolf · May 5, 2006

About that picture. It says, open the windows as soon as you hit the water. If you have manual windows, then just swim out. If not, the water preasure will be equal, and it will be much easier just to open the door, so you don't waste oxygen kicking the window to break it.

Draka · May 5, 2006

turk179 said:
I am going to assume that the water is only a couple of inches deep so this is what I would do. First I would roll down the window and light a cig. Next I would open up the car door to test the water to see if it is deep enough to enter my shoes. If it is not then I would slowly walk toward a small bump or maybe even a hill and then scream for help. If it is deep enough to get into my shoes then I would try to tiptoe through the tullips....I mean water and then repeat the last step of screaming for help. If the water is deeper than a couple of inches then I would probably just die screaming like a two year old school girl.

Ahh, my brave man. I feel so safe and secure with you

.

Besides, knowing my car..we'd probably pull a Herbie and float.

Otherwise, yeah, the whole window and swim for it thing.

dawny0826 · May 5, 2006

angellous_evangellous said:
It's scary that no one appeared to know this.

I know this, actually...I just can't help but question myself...if I was in the throes of this...would I remember to roll down the windows?

Hope I'll never find out.

angellous_evangellous · May 5, 2006

dawny0826 said:
I know this, actually...I just can't help but question myself...if I was in the throes of this...would I remember to roll down the windows?

Hope I'll never find out.

Just drive with the windows down like me. :cover:

Draka · May 5, 2006

angellous_evangellous said:
Just drive with the windows down like me. :cover:

In warm weather then, this would be no problem...especially for those of us who have cars with 2/60 instead of A/C.

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