Current Best Practices
Knowing what to do in an emergency situation can make all the difference

Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht
and Operation ALIVE
Speed is key for survival with less than 60 seconds to get out of the car! Do NOT open doors, as this increases the rate of water ingress and causes the vehicle to sink rapidly. Do not call 9-1-1 for help, they won’t get to you in time.
Remember SWOC:
- Seatbelts Off
- Windows Open
- Out immediately
- Children first
Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht is the founder of operation ALIVE, SWOC and emergency response protocols used by the Fire Priority Dispatch System™(FPDS®), International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED®), and the Police and Medical Priority Dispatch Systems™ (PPDS®).
According to Giesbrecht “AWOS will save many lives by automatically providing occupants with an exit from a sinking vehicle. Today, there are very few rescue missions in relation to vehicle submersion, but rather cadaver recovery missions. There simply isn’t enough time for emergency responders to get there”.
He has performed over 150 human vehicle submersions and published 10 related papers in peer-reviewed journals.