ResQMe is part of my EDC gear keychain.

"One had swum up my left leg First and foremost: take a deep breath mentally and physically if this happens.
"
Interesting way that came together! <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I didn't say it would be easy, but it does get easier as the pressure equalises.

I've now searched around a bit, and it sounds like the best approach is to open the window. All the news reports I found in which the victim survived, they got out through the window, not the door. Apparently electric window openers usually work for some minutes after the car is submerged, and submerging itself will take several minutes - at least, if the doors are shut. There seem to be cases where the door was opened, causing the car to sink quicker, and the rush of water forced the door shut again, making things worse.

It's certainly best to get out as early as you can, and doors shut, window open seems to be the best way.

Not to sound glib, am I last person on Earth who DOESN"T have power windows? This is a small part of why I hate the things.

I have an 87 chevy pickup and I have power locks and power windows. I HATE THEM! They don't work very well at all. As far as im concerned, it's just another thing to go wrong.

Plus you wouldn't have to break your window in case of the above emergency. Then again it doesn't really matter because your car is at the bottom of a lake! It could save your life though.

My local Harbor Freight has these survival knives on sale for about $8USD, Harbor Freight Survival Knife . I bought one to keep in the map pocket of my door. I can be used to cut a seatbelt and should be large enough to break the window glass in an emergency.

Here's another HF item that might fit the bill: Emergency Escape Hammer for about $6USD.

The National Park Service did quite a few experiments on this and what they found is that panic is what kills people. THey donned scuba gear and rolled a car down a boat ramp into the water. Ran it over and over. In fresh water power lights and locks still work, so do headlights, etc... once there is water against the door, say more than half, you won't be able to open it until pressure equalizes. The end result, stay calm, remove your seatbelt (often forgotten), drop the window or wait unitl the pressure equalizes, escape. Oh, remember, if you use a punch/hammer/res-q-me on the window before the pressure equalizes you are going to get a facefull of high velocity water and broken glass.

Bill

I would most likely want to get out before the car submerged as the engine would most likely go down first and possibly cause the car to settle upside down. Something as simple as a screwdriver tip whipped against a window will break glass of the side windows. I'd like to try my knife tip performed in the same manner(whipping the wrist) to see if it would work. Also, water temps have to be considered.

Most newer cars have and antishatter layer in the glass like the windshield so the glass will crack but still hold in place. You would need to brace yourself against something and push with your feet to get the glass to open enough to get out.
Somewhere in the rear of every vehicle are vents to allow air to escape when you shut the doors. This should help let water in the rear to allow it to sink level as well as drain holes in the bottom of the trunk.

Last night the discovery channel ran this one: end result was , get out of the car ASAP. Car they were using floated for two minutes. Once it was under, you COULDN'T open the doors.

They're still working on the computer simulation. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />