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What to do if your car is submerged
By Robert Carper

Most of us love water but not in the following scenario. Sinking cars are more common than you might imagine. It's reasonable to assume that the thought of being inside a car when it sinks must be one of the most frightening experiences imaginable for most people.

Occasionally cars drive off quay-sides or into rivers (like the one on the right); other problems arise when the parking brake isn't applied properly and cars simply roll down embankments into lakes or rivers.

But as with all emergencies you can take quick controlled action to survive.

Experts say rolling down the window first is not the best thing to do. Grab your steering wheel with two hands and brace for impact.  This can prevent you from hitting your head.

If you have manual windows, roll them down immediately. But if your windows are automatic and you've lost power, you'll need a vehicle escape device.

Car escape tools have multiple features, including a seat belt cutter and hammer-like head that is used to shatter the window glass. 

If your kids are in the car, experts say bring them up to the front.  Start with the oldest child so they can help you bring the others to the front row. 

Next, break the window using the car escape device. Once the window shatters, use your elbow to push the glass out towards the water.  Then, take your children and push them out the window and up towards the surface of the water before exiting the car yourself. 

If the water is rushing into your car, experiments from experts have shown you can get still pass through the window. You can also use your feet to push off of the car once your body is out, but be careful of any broken glass from the window. 

Experts say do not try and open your door at any point in time during your escape. There is 600 pounds of pressure for every square inch of the door which makes it impossible to open. 

Also avoid breaking the windshield.  Because it's made of protected glass, it's designed not to break.  Breaking the side window is the best chance of getting out of the car.   If you do not have a car escape tool, find anything sharp and small to break the window.

Once again, here's a breakdown of what to do in the case of your car going underwater. 

     ·            Brace for impact

     ·            Roll down your window

     ·            Take off your seatbelt

     ·            Bring children to the front row

     ·            Break glass using car escape tool or sharp device

     ·            Push kids out driver's window and up towards surface

     ·            Do not try and open door or break windshield 

To sum up

Take Action!

The action you take will perhaps depend on the situation that you are in. There are various expert opinions and there have been experiments to determine the best approach. You might run off the road into a river or, with changing weather patterns, be swept off the road in a flash flood. With things happening that quickly your action may differ from a situation where there is more time, perhaps if your car rolls down a bank into a lake.

Whatever the situation, if you are in deep water you will have to get out as quickly as possible, but you will need as much energy as possible to swim and, possibly, to fight the cold. If the car has submerged quickly, fight panic by switching on the interior lights and breathing deeply. Switch on all the cars lights (if they still work) to help rescuers see where you are.

Some people suggest that you should shut the windows to slow down the rate at which the car fills with water. The theory is that the pressure inside and outside needs to equalise before you can swim out or attempt to open a door.

However, other tests, notably one shown on British television, have shown that it can take too long for the equalization process or that the force of water rushing in can make it impossible to escape.

On balance, it seems that the best course of action is to try and get out as soon as possible. The guidelines below might help you to do this.

·       Release your seatbelts and open the windows - be aware that the seatbelts might not retract; take care not to get tangled

·       If your head restraints are removable, pull them out when you release your seatbelt to enable easy passage for rear passengers - you can also use the head restraints to smash the side windows if necessary

·       If your windows jam, try to break them. An 'emergency hammer' is ideal; a steering wheel security lock will do; or kick hard.

·       You may be able to open a door, but if you can, it's probably better to exit through a window

·       The car will sink 'heavy end' first (the heavy end is where the engine is). In deeper water it may flip onto its roof

·       In a car that sinks front first, there will be a bubble of air in the back, but you should stay in the front ... the front windows are often bigger and easier to get out of — for all passengers

·       The car won't sink immediately, even with the windows open, however you must use every moment to free yourself and passengers and get out. Push children out first

·       It may seem obvious - but don't try to save anything except lives. Computers, phones, purses, jewellery, etc. can be replaced - you can't!

·       If you are unable to open a window, there is the equalisation option as a last resort. Keep your head. There should be enough air for the minute or two that it will take to prepare to escape. When the car is nearly full of water, take a deep breath and push a door open, you may need to do this with your feet (for extra strength). Note the wait: If you try to open the doors too soon the water pressure will defeat you