Extreme Survival

[Merika]

I cross A LOT of big bridges....no matter where I'm driving. We've often discussed what we would do if something went terribly wrong and we were going into the ocean/river depending on bridge.

Here is what you are supposed to do:

Extreme Survival

How to Escape from a Sinking Car

1. As soon as you hit the water, open your window. This is your best chance of escape, because opening the door will be very difficult given the outside water pressure. (To be safe, you should drive with the windows and doors slightly open whenever you are near water or driving on ice.) Opening the window allows water to come in and equalize the pressure. Once the water pressure inside and outside the car is equal, you’ll be able to open the door.

2. If your power windows won’t work or you cannot roll your windows down all the way, attempt to break the glass with your foot, shoulder, or a heavy object such as an antitheft steering wheel lock.

3. Get out. Do not worry about leaving anything behind unless it is another person. Vehicles with engines in front will sink at a steep angle. If the water is fifteen feet or deeper, the vehicle may end up on its roof, upside down. For this reason, you must get out as soon as possible, while the car is still afloat. Depending on the vehicle, floating time will range from a few seconds to a few minutes. The more airtight the car, the longer it floats. Air in the car will be quickly forced out through the trunk and cab. An air bubble is unlikely to remain once the car hits bottom. Get out as early as possible.

4. If you are unable to open the window or break it, you have one final option. Remain calm and do not panic. Wait until the car begins filling with water. When the water reaches your head, take a deep breath and hold it. Now the pressure should be equalized inside and outside, and you should be able to open the door and swim to the surface.
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Anyone else have any fears or wonder what they should do type questions?

[Duke]

What happens if my car gets caught in a tractor beam from an alien craft?

[Merika]

Originally Posted by Duke

What happens if my car gets caught in a tractor beam from an alien craft?

You are screwed. And no one will believe your story except the loonies who sell the UFO magazines.

[Vautrin]

You would have to be in the most deserted area of the Netherlands for that knowledge to become useful, but good tips.

[Merika]

That's because you don't live HERE




in the swamp. That is only one of our many many bridges.

[Vautrin]

That is a bridge. We have a few aquaducts (tunnels), but the longest bridge will be around 100 meters. Not counting the Delta Works (and the Afsluitdijk), which are defenses against the sea, sometimes combined with roads.

[Merika]

I think we have four or five major birdges like that.....and I really don't know how many other ones. I have to cross a bridge no matter where I go because I live on what is theoretically an island.



I live where the word 'entrance' is written. As you can see... if we have a hurricane anywhere close...we are screwed. Also...how to survive falling off a bridge in a car is good information.

[Vautrin]

A hurricane would be a disaster in that area. The same here, but here they do not (yet!) exist.

Besides our government seems to expect an application of said hurricane to wreak havoc and destruction. And will be surprised, even if they refused the application that said hurricane will cause a lot of damage, .

[Merika]

I would think the ocean water is too cold in your area to feed a hurricane. This is why when we have a mild winter, such as the last few, we all get nervous. The waters stay warm and pull them in.

The reason we always have to evacate at even the hint of a hurricane is because the bridges close after the winds get up to 38 mph. Then, if you didn't get out...you are STUCK. We would be like those people in New Orleans....LOL!

Do you get ANY sort of ocean winter storms or something similar?

[Vautrin]

There are two risks: flooding of the rivers (due to excessive rainfall in the upstream areas). People live literally next door to the river, so when that happens, their houses get flooded. That has happened a few times in the past 15 years, most often in the south of the country, with the river Maas.

Strong South-Western winds, during a specific tide ((spring-tide?)), which can cause massive waves. That was the cause of the flooding in Zeeland and Zuid-Holland now 50 years ago.

And on ocassion there are small windgusts, which are concentrated in very small areas, but cause quite a lot of damage. Hurccianes? No, have not been around here, and that is not yet possible. But the weather has grown to be more and more instable in the past few years. We will see ...

[Merika]

Do they just have levees built around them now? Truth is...you get a storm bad enough and nothing really will keep the water out. Unlike New Orleans though...perhaps they have the ingenuity to at least keep the pumps WORKING instead of turning them off and giving up.

[Vautrin]

There are levees now. And most of the isles are connected (roads) by said levees as well. A nice bonus. The chances of anything happening, in the current situtation are well below 1 disaster in 1000 years. So relatively safe.

[Merika]

Until you hit the 1000 year mark!

New Orleans felt the same way....then BAM....it happened after people were talking about it for years.

[Vautrin]

But unlike New Orleans, our DeltaWorks are constantly being maintained and improved to keep the odds at a minimum. And it is impossible for government to reduce spending on that, without there being a big fuss.

The same with the dykes in the North of the country. They will be improved again, and again, just to be safe.

[Adonaicole]

The Netherlands are famous for having the best dykes in the world. They have to, cause if they fail, half the country would be underwater. Where I live, there are lot's of bridges too. I'm a strong swimmer so I'm confident I could swim to shore whereever I was.