My Car Is Sinking: Automobile Submersion, Lessons in Vehicle Escape

Abstract

A vehicle is most easily exited during the initial Floating Phase. We suggest the following escape procedure: SEATBELT(s) unfastened; WINDOWS open; CHILDREN released from restraints and brought close to an adult; and OUT, children should exit first.

Role of temperature on nonlinear cardiac dynamics

“…For example, when the body core temperature is raised because of sport fatigue or heat strokes up to the extreme measured cases of more than 42 • C (hyperthermia) [8], serious dysfunctions in brain and heart do occur (in some cases, this could be a possible cause for sudden death in sports). On the other hand, when body temperature is lowered to 26 • C or less (hypothermia) because of surgery or therapeutical procedures [9] or for unfortunate events as shipwrecks or avalanches [10][11][12][13], death for fibrillation as well as brain damages are well known to occur [14].…”

Clothing Buoyancy and Underwater Horizontal Swim Distance After Exiting a Submersed Vehicle Simulator

“…Initially, the cold shock response seems to predominate as breath hold ability decreases with water temperature. Hayward et al ( 14 ) demonstrated that at 0°C, it is unlikely that many occupants could hold their breath for the 30 s (including time to lower the simulator) required to exit the simulator and reach the surface; this length of time could occur in a lighter vehicle as water would have to fi ll the cabin before doors or windows could be opened ( 10 ).…”

“…As part of Operation ALIVE (Automobile submersion: Lessons In Vehicle Escape), actual vehicle submersions with subjects in them provided many insights into human escape strategies and limitations ( 10 ). Subsequently, a submersible vehicle simulator was designed to allow multiple immersions in the more controlled settings of a water tank ( 19 ) or swimming pool.…”

“…It has been established that light vehicles (i.e., cars or light trucks) will fl oat for 30-120 s ( 16 ) and the preferred strategy is to exit through a window while the vehicle is still at the surface ( 10 ). Heavy machinery, however, sinks almost immediately; thus survival depends on exiting while underwater ( 6 , 11 , 16 ).…”

From Swimming Skill to Water Competence: Towards a More Inclusive Drowning Prevention Future

“…In North America, 5-11% of all drownings occur in submerged vehicles (Giesbrecht & McDonald, 2011). Giesbrecht and McDonald (2010) further identified the phases of the submersion of a passenger car as a) floating, b) sinking and c) submerged. The floating phase was approximately one minute in a reasonably air-tight vehicle.…”