How to Escape a Sinking Car and How to Call 119
▶ PLAY FREE NOWNo download · Phone or PC · 3–5 minutes per run · 10 languagesWhen a car goes into water, you usually have about a minute. Below is a summary based on Korea’s Ministry of the Interior and Safety public action guidelines, Korea Transportation Safety Authority (TS) flood tests, Jeonbuk and Incheon Fire Headquarters guidance, the SWOC method of Prof. Gordon Giesbrecht (University of Manitoba, Canada), and AAA and US National Weather Service (NWS) material. In a real emergency, call 119 (Korea) or your local emergency number.
1. Not going in comes first
- If water is pooling in or flowing into an underpass, don’t enter. An underground space can fill to the ceiling in minutes (Ministry of the Interior and Safety).
- 30 cm of moving water can carry away most cars. Never drive or walk into a flooded road (NWS “Turn Around, Don’t Drown”).
- If water gets in while driving or the car stalls, leave the car and get to high ground immediately while the doors still open.
2. If your car goes into water: seatbelt → window → out (SWOC)
- S Seatbelt: unbuckle as soon as the car floats. At the moment of impact, stay belted and brace.
- W Window: lower the window right away while the power still works. Once the electrics fail, power windows stop moving.
- O Out: get out through the window. Once the water is above the window line, water pours in and it gets much harder.
- C Children first: if there are children, get them out first.
- Make the call after you get out.
3. Why won’t the door open?
- In Korea Transportation Safety Authority tests, even about 50 cm of water created enough pressure difference to make doors hard to open. Window before door.
4. If the window won’t open: break the corner
- Strike the corner of a side window hard with an emergency escape hammer. Keep the hammer within the driver’s reach, not in the glovebox (TS).
- With no hammer, pull out the driver’s headrest and use its steel rod to break the glass corner (Ministry of the Interior and Safety). It may not work on every car.
- Windshields and some cars’ side windows are laminated glass and barely break even with a hammer (AAA tests). Check your car’s glass markings in advance.
5. Last resort: when the pressure equalizes
- If you can’t break the glass, wait until the water level inside and out differs by 30 cm or less, then escape the moment the door opens (Ministry of the Interior and Safety). Take a big last breath and hold it to the end. Experts treat this as a last resort.
6. Once out: wait somewhere high
- If you can’t swim, hold on to something or climb somewhere above the water, like the car roof.
- Stay away from the strong current, and don’t try to swim across.
- A wet body loses heat even in summer. Turn your back to the wind and huddle together.
7. Calling 119: location first
- If you don’t know where you are, give the ID number on a nearby utility pole or streetlight to pinpoint your address (Incheon Fire Headquarters).
- At night, wave your phone light to show rescuers where you are.
- When rescuers arrive, board one at a time as they direct.
8. Do this in your car today
- Put an emergency escape hammer within the driver’s reach.
- Check whether your side windows are tempered or laminated glass, and whether the headrest comes out.
- In the rainy season, check emergency alerts and closure info, and choose routes that avoid underpasses and riverside roads.
This page summarizes public material and does not replace official guidance. To try it yourself, see the 60 Seconds in a Sinking Car game guide.
FAQ
How many seconds do I have to get out of a sinking car?
Usually about a minute. Prof. Giesbrecht recommends doing seatbelt → window → out (SWOC) immediately.
Why shouldn’t I try to get out through the door?
Because the water outside presses the door shut. In Korea Transportation Safety Authority tests, doors were hard to open at only about 50 cm of water.
What if the window won’t open?
Break the corner of a side window with an emergency escape hammer or the headrest’s steel rod. The windshield is laminated glass and won’t break.
What if I have no hammer and the glass won’t break?
As a last resort, wait until the car fills and the water level inside and out differs by 30 cm or less, take a deep breath and open the door (Ministry of the Interior and Safety).
Should I swim once I’m out of the car?
If the current is strong, don’t swim. Wait for rescue somewhere high like the car roof and call 119.
How do I tell 119 where I am?
Give the road name along with the ID number on a nearby utility pole or streetlight, and they can find your exact location.
Is even a little water in an underpass dangerous?
Yes. If water is pooling or flowing in, don’t enter. An underground space can fill within minutes.