Fire Brigade Tips: How to Escape a Car Submerged in Water Within Seconds
Imagine you’re driving calmly, when suddenly, your car plunges into water. It’s a frightening situation nobody wants to experience, but it can happen to anyone. Knowing what to do—and acting quickly—dramatically improves your chances of escaping safely.
In Diemen, the Netherlands, children learn how to escape a sinking car through special training, with adults also taking part to understand critical survival techniques.
The First Seconds Are Crucial
The very first thing to do if your car lands in water is to stay calm. Panicking only makes things worse. Usually, you’ll have just a few minutes before the car is fully submerged. Follow these steps:
- Immediately undo your seatbelt. Many panic and forget this essential step.
- Open a window quickly. Use the electric controls if still functioning; otherwise, break the side window using a safety hammer or a hard object.
- Escape through the window immediately. Swim upwards to breathe and stay oriented. Help children out, starting with older kids, then take the youngest on your lap.
Why Acting Fast Matters
Each year, around 800 cars in the Netherlands end up in water. Though many survive, about 50 die annually from not escaping in time—often due to panic or lack of knowledge. Water pressure prevents opening doors until fully filled, so the window is your best exit route.
If You Don’t Have a Safety Hammer
No hammer? Some headrests have metal rods to break windows. Keys or screwdrivers can work, but the safest plan is keeping a safety hammer accessible in your car, often near the steering wheel or passenger seat, sometimes with a seatbelt cutter included.
Discuss and practice these steps with your family, especially children, so everyone knows what to do.
Practice Makes You Stronger
In Diemen, children are taught escape skills in a controlled pool using a sinking car. They learn unbuckling seat belts, opening or breaking windows, and swimming out safely. These lessons build confidence and save lives. Adults can join similar trainings often organized by water and traffic safety groups.
A Little Preparation Makes a Big Difference
Thinking about a water crash is unpleasant but vital. With knowledge and preparation—seatbelt off, window open or broken, exit fast—you dramatically improve survival chances. Stay calm: panic is the biggest threat.
For more details, see the original Dutch source: https://infovandaag.nl/brandweer-geeft-tips-dit-is-hoe-je-in-seconden-uit-een-gecrashte-auto-ter-water-komt/