Do you know how to get out of a sinking car?
The correct answer is SWOC [SEATBELTS off, WINDOWS open, OUT immediately, CHILDREN first].
In a new study, researchers found that this is not common knowledge and that many people don’t know the answer.
The research was conducted by a team from the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management at the University of Manitoba.
Vehicle submersions account for up to 10% of all drownings in western countries.
Previous research has shown that although occupants may be conscious and functional, they often make incorrect decisions for self-rescue. This strongly increases the drowning risk.
In the study, the team found most people had knowledge of vehicle submersions from the media, but they don’t know the effective self-rescue protocol.
They examined current public knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding vehicle submersion incidents and to determine if individuals, who are aware of educational efforts regarding vehicle submersions, indicated better responses.
The results showed that a majority of respondents had knowledge of vehicle submersions from the media, but they were not aware of an effective self-rescue method.
The researchers say that even if the probability of being in a vehicle submersion is low, this type of accident has one of the highest mortality rates of any type of single-vehicle accident.
But death by drowning is usually preventable.
The team says that passengers have only about one minute to self-exit from a sinking vehicle; they should not rely on calling emergency dispatch.
One lead author of the study is Gerren McDonald University of Manitoba Applied Health Sciences Ph.D. student.
The study is published in Injury Epidemiology.
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