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Escape! Because Accidents Happen -- Abandon Ship

Program Overview


How do you escape from a stranded submarine? How did the Titanic disaster ultimately save lives? What determines how a ship sinks? How does hypothermia affect the human body? NOVA reveals these answers and more in a stunning look at the historic evolution of maritime safety.

It's taken centuries of deadly accidents to reach today's technological advancements and maritime regulations. Survivor interviews and expert commentary offers a remarkable new perspective on sea safety. Meet Paul Barney and hear his story of survival and rescue from a passenger ferry sinking in the Baltic Sea. See how hypothermia's "cold-water shock" can incapacitate even the strongest Olympic swimmers. Watch offshore oil-rig workers escape in an ingenious new lifeboat. Hear two sailors recall the terror and joy of being rescued from a submarine trapped 240 feet down. And see how technology can make ocean voyages safer.

Teacher's Guide
Escape! Because Accidents Happen -- Abandon Ship
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