Security Expert Advises Viewers Not to Film Selves If They’re Ever Trapped in Submerged Car: ‘No, No, No’
A guest on CNN warned viewers not to waste time filming themselves if they ever find themselves in a vehicle submerged in water.
On Monday night in Baltimore, a massive cargo ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which spans the Patapsco River. The bridge collapsed and as of Tuesday evening, six people are unaccounted for and are presumed dead.
On Tuesday’s edition of The Source on CNN, Kaitlan Collins interviewed security specialist and former NYPD Officer Bill Stanton about what to do – and what not to do – should people find themselves in a car taking on water.
“So what’s the first step?” Collins asked. “Is it seat belts? Is it rolling down your window?”
“The first step is to do your homework,” Stanton replied. “Have like, seat belt cutters, have a glass-break. In my car, I have everything for multiple different scenarios. And have that in your car at the ready. You know, in the dashboard, in the pocket, in the side. And sometimes you can even have it on your jackets. So now, the car hits the water. If it’s not submerged fully yet, you want to get those windows down and get out of the car. Now, if the water is rushing in, you have to wait for it to equalize and try to push open the door. But if you have to go through the glass, break that glass. But make sure you’re not wearing anything that’s going to weigh you down like an anchor.”
Collins then asked about the difficulty many might have staying calm and maintaining “presence of mind” in such a harrowing situation.
“I think that would be one of the biggest and toughest issues for anyone, which is staying calm if your car is suddenly submerged into water,” she said. “It’s the middle of the night. I mean, what’s your advice in that scenario?”
Stanton replied:
Well, we live in a society now when what’s the first– anytime there’s an emergency, what’s the first thing people do? They take out their cell phone and they want to film it. No, no, no.
Go through these dress rehearsals in your mind. I call them fire drills for life. Do these what-if scenarios not only listen– we have so many things that come up. Active shooters, plane emergencies. This is another one to add to the list.
Watch above via CNN.
