‘Fear Factor’ is a lifesaver

A prison guard who escaped a car that sank in a flooded creek credits an episode of the TV reality show “Fear Factor” with saving her life.

Debra Swaim’s car was swept off the road into Cucamonga Creek in Riverside during a flash flood late Tuesday. As her car sank, Swaim said she remembered a rerun episode of NBC’s “Fear Factor” in which contestants had to escape from a car in the water.

Swaim said she knew to quickly roll down her automatic windows because she wouldn’t be able to open her doors underwater.

“I knew I’ve got to go through my window,” she said. “That has everything to do with me watching ‘Fear Factor.’ ”