Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Avoid entering a road vehicle in water

Control Measure Knowledge

Initial call interrogation can help to prevent unnecessary or inappropriate deployment of resources. An example of this would be to challenge an emergency call regarding an unoccupied vehicle in floodwater. The line of questioning to determine appropriate mobilisation includes:

  • The length of time the vehicle has been in the water
  • The depth and speed of flow of the water
  • If the vehicle is thought to be occupied or unoccupied

When approaching a road vehicle in water, the scene survey should include looking for signs of occupancy in the road vehicle, such as personal possessions or fastened seatbelts.

A dynamic risk assessment should consider the window of opportunity for carrying out immediate life-saving actions, using safe working practices and competent personnel to carry out tasks. This may mean considering the speed of water flow and how quickly an area is becoming inundated, the depth of the water and the likely path of travel the vehicle may take if it moves.

Personnel should avoid entering a submerged or partially submerged vehicle as this may affect its stability, potentially resulting in entrapment. The surface of a road vehicle is likely to be extremely slippery and standing on top of it is not recommended.

Leaning into a vehicle to assist a casualty while wearing automatically inflating life jackets should be avoided. If the device is activated while fully or partially in a vehicle, either by accidentally triggering the device or if sensors become submerged, the inflated life jacket may cause the wearer to become trapped.

Casualties can be encouraged to self-extricate once appropriate control measures are established. For more information refer to Rescue from a road vehicle in water.

Electric or hybrid road vehicles

Electric and hybrid road vehicles should be isolated in the same way as conventional road vehicles, using the vehicle ignition. This will assist in preventing the unwanted movement of the vehicle. High-voltage circuitry should not be disconnected or touched if a vehicle is submerged, to prevent the risk of electrocution and the transmission of electricity through the water.

An appropriate scene survey may be necessary to determine if the high-voltage system has been compromised through damage as a result of an accident. If high-voltage batteries have been damaged, there may be a risk of electric shock and transmission of an electric current through the body of water.

Strategic Actions

Tactical Actions