A tire blowout can be a horrifying, heart-stopping experience. Especially if you have a car full of children. But if you remain calm and follow these tips, you should be able to avoid a serious accident.

1. Upon hearing the sound of a blowout or feeling a tug on the car's steering wheel, grip the wheel with both hands. Don't turn the wheel; just grip it firmly.

2. Immediately, take your foot off the accelerator. Brakes are a no-no. Braking will cause the car to act oddly and maybe even slide out of control. Just let the car gradually slow down, while steering it away from traffic.

3. Decide if you will need to switch lanes. Turn on your signal light as soon as possible to give other drivers plenty of notice of your intentions. Begin your lane change. The steering wheel will probably fight you, so be prepared to exert some strength.

4. Steer your vehicle to the side of the road as soon as is possible. Again, your steering wheel will be fighting you, so stay strong. As the car slows, it will get harder to turn the wheel.

5. Once you have maneuvered your car to the side of the road, you may apply the brakes. Slowly. Bring the car to a complete halt.

6. Don't worry if you must drive a little way to get the car safely to the side of the road. A short drive won't damage the rim.

7. Lastly, turn on your emergency flashers, and call the auto club. Hopefully, you have a spare or a temporary spare do-nut tire in your vehicle. Otherwise, prepare for a tow to the nearest garage.

Always remember, when involved in a tire blowout, do not use the brake. Take your foot off the accelerator, and grab the steering wheel. Stay calm and you should be able to safely get out of this scary situation.

Learn more about this author, Sheree Zielke.
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