How to Break a Car Window Underwater

Accidents in which cars end up submerged in water may seem few and far between. In actuality, there are more than 10,000 individuals each year involved in immersion accidents. While the majority do survive these incidents, there are over 300 of them who become trapped, are unable to reach safety and are left to a watery grave. The biggest contributor to these deaths is the absence of knowledge of how to escape. Another is not having the tools present you will need to make a fast exit.

Things You'll Need

• Lifehammer or other pointed metal object
• Seat belt cutter

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Instructions

• 1

  Open the window immediately if it is still an option. Once the car gets too far into the water, getting the windows down may be impossible. Electrically controlled windows may short out and do unexpected things, like roll back up and not open again. This makes exiting as quickly as possible a top priority.

• 2

  Break the window. If you are unable to open the window using the crank or the power switch, then you must break the window as soon as possible, using the Lifehammer or another pointed metal object. A screwdriver or the corner of a seat belt latch are good options. Hit the glass as many times as is necessary to break it away and fit through.

• 3

  Unlatch your seat belt. You should wait until you have the window open before releasing your seat belt because the vehicle could flip on its side or upside down. If this were to happen, you might become disoriented, making getting to the window and getting it open less likely and more time-consuming, lessening your chances of survival.

• 4

  Exit through the opening you created by breaking the window. If you have children in the car, get them out first, then exit the vehicle.