Being trapped in a car's trunk can be a harrowing, sometimes deadly experience. Sometimes a criminal will force a person into a trunk , and sometimes a person (usually a child) will accidentally get trapped in a trunk, but regardless of the cause of entrapment, a trunk is a very dangerous place to be. Unfortunately, it's not easy to get out of a locked trunk. While some vehicles now have trunk release levers inside, others do not. So what can you do? Read on to find out. Be calm if you become trapped in a trunk. Trunks aren't completely airtight, and it generally takes at least twelve hours to fall unconscious; more, if you are small or the trunk is large (or both). What could kill you is hyperventilation , so breathe regularly and don't panic. It may get very hot in there - up to 140F (60C) - but you still need to stay calm in order to increase your likelihood of escaping. [1] 2 Attempt to escape through the back seat . Some cars have back seats that fold down to allow access to the trunk. Generally the release for these seats is located inside the car, but there may be one in the trunk as well. If not, try to push, kick, or pry the seats down, and then climb out 3 Look for a trunk release . The trunk you're in may not have a release unless it's a newer model or a release is installed.