Jul 16, 2008 2:55 pm US/Pacific
How To Escape From A Sinking Car
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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If your car goes under water, do you know how to escape? (File photo)
CBS
Following the collapse of a bridge in Minneapolis that sent cars tumbling into
the water below, you are probably thinking about vehicle safety. Do you know
what to do if your car is submerged?
There are several simple steps you
need to take to handle such an emergency. Here are some tips to help you escape
safely in case of such an emergency.
--Don't Panic
The key to
getting out of a submerged car is to stay calm. You need to remain levelheaded
so you will be able to think.
--Unfasten the Seat Belt
--Roll
Down Your Window to Escape
Open the window and get out of the car as soon
as you can--if possible, before it starts to sink. If the car is sinking, get
out as soon as the resistance to the incoming rush of water lessens.
If
for some reason you cannot get the window down, wait till the car fills
completely before you can open the door. The water pressure will then have
equalized, which will allow the door to open. Before exiting, try to find a
pocket of air at the top of the car and take a breath.
--Get Out and
Swim to Safety
If you forget the above, remember the acronym
POGO.
P -- Pop the seat belt.
O -- Open the window.
GO -- Get
out.
Never sit in the car and just wait.
If you follow these
steps, you should be able to escape the car before it starts to sink. It takes a
car 2-3 minutes to sink, depending on the car.
Consider buying
glass-breaking tools. You can carry a small hammer or center punch, which you
can use to shatter glass. A center punch looks like an ink pen and can be found
in any hardware store.
The idea is to try to exert force on the glass at
one small point location. We recommend at the bottom or a corner edge of a
window. If you break the center of the glass, you could cut yourself. Never try
to break the windshield or the car's back window: They will never break.
Always try to break a side window. Anyone can break the window with the
punch. The automatic center punch does not require a lot of strength. A child
can use it successfully. You can also us a Philips head screwdriver.
As
long as the keys are in the ignition of a car, the electric windows should work.
Even when a car sinks to the bottom of a body of water, the electrical system
will still work for a while.
Do all cars sink? Yes, all cars sink, but
they sink at different rates. A Volkswagen Beetle once floated for nearly 15
minutes.
If you are in the car with children, first free yourself from
your seat belt, then open a window, then free the kids' seat belts and push them
out the window first.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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