How to survive in floodwaters: Read what Science says

Islamabad: A recent Science study conducted about floodwaters says that water is the most deceptive killer on earth. Just six inches of moving floodwater can knock down a grown adult. That sounds crazy until you understand the physics behind it.

Read the following explanations.

More than half of all flood deaths happen in vehicles and people driving their vehicles through such waters assume that a few inches won’t matter. Even they also think their car is heavy enough to push through, however, they are wrong.

How?

The most important rule is to never drive your car through the flooded-waters as once water reaches the bottom of your car, it starts to float, according to a video posted to various social media platforms.

The video-guide said, at 12 inches, most vehicles lose traction and drift, while, at two feet, even trucks and SUVs can be swept away.

Even 97,000-ton aircraft carriers float because of the same physics, the video clarified, adding that if your car gets trapped by rising waters, abandon it immediately.

At that moment, the best act is to climb onto your roof and dial a call to emergency services to secure yourself.

Walking through floods is just as deadly as driving

Use a stick to test if the ground underneath feels solid but never walk in water deeper than six inches, the video statement said.

Flash floods are the most dangerous type of all

A small creek can turn into a 10-feet river in under an hour.  Heavy rain overwhelms the ground’s ability to absorb it, the video statement continues.

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In such situation, an average person drowns within a period of three-minutes of going under water. The survival window is usually under five minutes. By 16 minutes it is almost always fatal.

Drowning is not necessarily violent or loud

There might not be any splashing or cries at all. Even if you survive, remember that the water itself is toxic. Scientists found E coli bacteria in 65 per cent of tested flood samples. Bacteria and viruses survive on surfaces for weeks afterward.

Therefore, never eat or drink anything touched by floodwaters.

To survive do not play with floodwaters. If the road is wet, turn around. If the water is rising, climb (in case you know how to successfully swim). But remember: never ever underestimate the danger.