Q&A for How to Escape from a Sinking Car

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Question

Do glass safety hammers work under water or is it only possible to swing them in air to get enough force to break a window?

Community Answer

The steel tip of the safety hammer is designed to concentrate the force at the point of impact. Even under water you should be able to break a side window. If you ever find yourself in that situation, you will probably find that you have more strength that you think due to the adrenaline rushing through your body.

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Question

What if I have my dog in the car? How can I save my dog?

Community Answer

When you smash the windows, get the dog out of the window and it will make its way to the top.

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Question

Is there a way out if the adult cannot swim?

Community Answer

Do anything you can to get up to the surface using obstacles (e.g. the car) to push you up. Don't flail because it will just tire you out.

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Question

What if I can't break the windows and I can't hold my breath long enough to swim up?

Community Answer

If you can't break the windows, try to open the door. Most people can hold their breath longer than they think, and running out of breath is a multi-stage process. Push off from the car or the bottom to propel yourself up to the surface.

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Question

What if I have my cat in the car? What should I do?

Community Answer

Cats can swim. Put the cat out the window before yourself and it will swim to the surface.

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Question

What if there is an infant in the car?

Community Answer

You will have to carry an infant. Unbuckle the infant quickly before exiting the vehicle. Use a teddy bear hold which is like carrying a person in a hug until you reach the surface. Then, hold on tightly until you are rescued or reach land.

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Question

What if the car is being swept away in a fast moving flood? My husband thinks it's safer to stay in the car than trying to swim. Is that true?

Community Answer

If the water is not filling the car any higher than your midsection, it might be safer to stay in the vehicle. However, this can pose some risk as your vehicle could be sucked into a deeper area and fill with water. In this case, you definitely want to escape the vehicle and find something floating nearby.

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Question

What if a person in the car cannot swim?

WolfangGames

Community Answer

Ideally you should give them something to float on, if available -- if not, you will have to drag that person with you to the surface.

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Question

Is it true that someone can take out their headrest and break their windows with the metal posts on it?

Community Answer

This is not true in every car, but if your headrest comes all the way out of the seat, its metal posts can likely be used in a pinch to break through a window.

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Question

Should I call 911 if I am in a sinking car?

Community Answer

No. 911 will not help you while you're in the sinking car. You will likely drown before they get there. It is best just to get out as soon as possible as told above and call 911 after you've escaped.

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Question

Where do I buy the tool to break a car window safely?

Community Answer

You can by a ResQMe tool on Amazon. It will usually cost $10-15 and is small enough to keep on your key chain or hanging on your rear view mirror.

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Question

When swimming up, will the air in your lungs expand?

Community Answer

No. This is only the case with pressurized air, inhaled in above one atmosphere conditions, i.e. below the surface. The air in the car, if it sinks, will have been brought down with it from the surface, and thus will not expand notably when brought back up in your lungs.

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Question

Is it a good idea to break as many windows as possible at the appropriate time, or should I only break one?

Hunter Crockett

Community Answer

You only need to break one. It takes more time to break all of them.

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Question

When I break the window of a sinking car, won't the glass fly in my face with the water?

Community Answer

It could, but at this point you will not be worrying about getting cut by glass. You're going to want to get out as soon as possible no matter what. You can hold something in front of your face for protection.

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Question

How do I swim through a window still lined with jagged glass?

Community Answer

Car windows are safety glass that gets pulverized into tiny bits when shattered, so it's nothing like the jagged shards produced when breaking regular windows.

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Question

What if I am too large to fit through the window?

Community Answer

Try to open the door when the pressure is leveled.

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Question

What happens if my phone is not waterproof?

Golden Owen

Community Answer

In this situation a phone is no where near as valuable as your life. While it may cost you a lot, it’s a better price to pay than your life so just leave it in the car and escape.

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Question

If my car falls on its side into the water, how would I reach the window?

Jay Tang

Community Answer

Stand up on the other side, or use the windshield to escape. Do whatever you have to do to survive.

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Question

What should I do if the car goes into a frozen lake? Would the cold water slow me down?

Community Answer

If your car goes into a lake that is only frozen on the surface, it will be like driving into normal water and will not slow you down. Follow the directions as usual and escape through the hole your car made in the ice.

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Question

My son is a year old, but can't hold his breath very long. What happens if he takes in water?

Community Answer

If he breathes in water, get him to the surface as fast as possible and call emergency services or give him CPR.

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Question

Is it possible to escape through the trunk?

Doggo

Top Answerer

While possible, it would be very, very hard. It will take a long time to get into the trunk through the small space in the back of your car and once you open the trunk door, the water will fill the space immediately.

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Question

What if there are dangerous animals in the water?

Golden Owen

Community Answer

Try to forget about them. Chances are they’ll only go for you if you're injured, but if you suffered no cuts from breaking the glass, chances are they will leave you alone.

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Question

How can I escape if I didn't take any keys with me and me windows can't roll down?

Community Answer

Search for anything in your car that is heavy. Move away from the window and throw the object as hard as you can at the glass. If you don't have any objects in the car like this, use your foot. See steps 4 and 5 for more info.

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Question

Should I break the front windshield of the car or window?

Community Answer

Never try to break your front windshield. It is laminated and may crack but won't break without a saw! Always use a side window or rear windshield.

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Question

If I manage to break my window, do I try to escape immediately through it, or do I wait until the car fills with water and equalises in pressure?

Community Answer

If you can get out of the car, you shouldn't wait.

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Question

What is the best approach for a mom with two kids that can't swim yet?

Community Answer

Get to the oldest kid first. Push them out towards the top, they should be able to use their arms to propel themselves out and stay above water. Grab the youngest child and follow.

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Question

If my toddler can't swim, do you know if car seats can float to the surface and then serve as a raft for them?

Emma Greeff

Community Answer

Some car seats are make of foam and polystyrene, which float. You can tell your child to hold on and not let go.

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Question

Any way to activate the airbags in a sinking car to help with bouyancy?

Community Answer

They probably already will have activated, and they are unlikely to be very helpful with buoyancy or buy you any more time. .

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Question

Once the car hits the water, can I just open the window and swim out?

Community Answer

Yes, assuming that the water isn't exerting pressure on the window. If there's more than an inch or two, don't expect it to open. Best case scenario is to roll the window down and swim out.

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Question

What would happen if your car's glass is too thick and you can't break it?

Community Answer

You could wait for the car to completely fill up with water. This makes the pressure between the outside and inside of the car equal. After this, you can just open a door to get out.

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