Once free, you can slowly crawl or swim to the edge and roll onto solid ground. Then gradually recline to float on the surface. Wiggle your legs in tiny movements, which will slowly let water in to loosen the compacted sand. The key to getting out is to remain calm. The more you struggle, the more sand will liquefy and sink, and the more trapped you’ll become. Because humans are buoyant, we typically won’t sink below the waist or mid-chest.īut once the sand grains are out of liquid suspension, they too will sink, and compact around your legs, trapping you. Quicksand looks solid, and if you were to place something or even step lightly upon it, it may support you.īut step firmly and the quicksand will liquefy, and you’ll sink. In those places, look out for sand that’s spongy or rippled in appearance, and check suspicious areas with a stick. Quicksand can form on beaches, tidal flats, riverbanks or near springs-anywhere the ground is saturated with water. Normal wet sand is about 25 percent water quicksand is more than 70 percent. It starts by knowing where quicksand forms and what it looks like. What can you do to avoid getting trapped-and to escape if you do?
Getting caught in quicksand can be fatal, with victims dying mostly from dehydration, hypothermia or heat exhaustion. Credit: Ralf Schulze from Koblenz, Germany This sign says “Take care! Quicksand” on the beach of Texel Island in the Netherlands.
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