Wear your seatbelt. According to the Indiana State Police, most car crashes involving water do not injure the vehicle's occupants if the safety belts are worn properly (Reference 1). When the vehicle enters the water, quickly remove the seatbelt.
Open a window. When the vehicle enters the water, it will float for several minutes before it begins to sink. Get any backseat passengers to the front and open the windows. Break the windows if you cannot use the car's window handles or power switch to open them. Window-breaking tools can be purchased at auto supply centers and online (see Resources). Never attempt to open the doors as the car will flood and sink rapidly.
Exit the vehicle. Climb onto the roof of the car and call 911 if a cell phone is available. Try to get to the nearest patch of dry land.
Listen carefully to the flight attendant's preflight demonstration. Know which exit is closest, the location of the life preservers and how to use the seat cushion as a floatation device. During the flight, review the safety card located in the seat pocket in front of you. Know the location of all exits.
Assume the brace position when a crash is inevitable. The brace position puts you in contact with the surface in front of you, normally the back of the next seat. Tightly fasten your seatbelt, tuck your legs under the seat, hold your head in your arms and hands and bend forward as far as possible so your head firmly rests on the surface in front of you.
Unfasten your seatbelt, grab a life preserver and proceed directly to the nearest exit after the plane hits the water.
Exit the plane by jumping onto the deployed chute. This needs to be done quickly as evacuation time is critical. Do not wait for the person in front of you to clear the chute before jumping on it (Reference 2). Inflate the life preserver upon evacuation and not before as it can cause problems while accessing the exit.
Lock arms with other passengers while in the water. This keeps everyone together and lessens your chances of floating away from the group. It also is easier for rescuers to spot a group. Await rescue efforts.
