Saskatchewan RCMP are looking to share vital information and survival tips about vehicle submersion with southwest motorists.
The province is home to more than 100,000 bodies of water, and Saskatchewan RCMP say that preparation is key in the event of a sinking or submerged vehicle.
Corporal Jamie Diemert, Saskatchewan RCPMP Underwater Recovery Team Coordinator, shared that it's important to act quickly and avoid panicking.
"Water can pour in through windows and doors, causing entrapment, and the situation can quickly become life-threatening," he said. "Knowing and practicing an escape plan with your family can prepare you for this kind of emergency."
Since this past May, Saskatchewan RCMP's Underwater Recovery Team has responded to a total of three calls that involved submerged vehicles, and no drownings resulted from the incidents.
"No one ever plans for an accident, but we know they happen," added Diemert. "Our police divers have responded to calls with vehicles in dugouts, sloughs, rivers, and even lakes."
Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, leading cold water and drowning physiologist and professor emeritus from the University of Manitoba, is credited with naming the life-saving acronym SWOC;
- Seatbelts off
- Windows open
- Out immediately
- Children first
In the case of an emergency, folks are advised to call 9-1-1 after safely exiting the vehicle.