You are hiking alone, in the middle of nature, lost in your thoughts, when suddenly you find yourself trapped in quicksand and begin to sink quickly. Are you destined to die like this, in the mud? Not really. While quicksand isn't really as dangerous as certain movies lead you to think, the phenomenon is real. Virtually any sandy or muddy soil can turn into quicksand, in soils sufficiently saturated with water and subject to vibrations, similar to those felt during an earthquake. Here's what to do if you find yourself in a similar situation.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Getting Your Feet Out
Step 1. Get rid of everything
If you run into quicksand and wear a backpack or carry something heavy, get rid of it immediately. Considering that your body is less heavy than sand, you won't be able to sink completely, unless you panic and end up fidgeting too much, or get dragged down by something heavy.
If you have a chance to take off your shoes, do it; shoes, especially those with flat, inflexible soles (for example many boots) create a suck in trying to get out of the sands. If you know in advance that you are likely to encounter quicksand, change your boots and put on shoes that you can take off with ease
Step 2. Move horizontally
If you feel your feet are locking up, take a couple of steps back before the sand sets. It usually takes about a minute for quicksand to become liquid, so the best way to get rid of it is not to sit still in one place.
If your feet get stuck, avoid taking uncoordinated steps to try to get out of there. Taking a long step forward could unlock a foot, but also cause you to sink further, and you still won't be able to free yourself completely
Step 3. Stop
If your feet are locking up quickly, let yourself fall backwards. By increasing the immersed volume you will limit the pressure and should free your feet allowing them to emerge. When you feel they are freeing, stand on your side and free yourself from the grasp of the sand. You will get muddy, but this is the fastest and safest way to get free.
Step 4. Take your time
If you're stuck in quicksand, moving around in a frenzy will only make it worse. Whatever you do, do it slowly. Slow down your movements and avoid moving the mud; vibrations caused by rapid movements can turn relatively solid ground into quicksand.
More importantly, quicksand can react unexpectedly to your movements. If you move slowly, you will be able to react more easily to any unexpected reaction, thus allowing you to avoid sinking further. You will have to be very patient. Depending on how much sand you have around, it may take a few minutes or even hours to get out, slowly and methodically
Part 2 of 3: Getting out of the quicksand
Step 1. Relax
Quicksand is usually no deeper than half a meter, but if you find yourself crossing a particularly deep area, you could quickly sink to your hips or chest. Stirring will make the situation worse, while, if you remain calm, the lower specific gravity of your body will allow you to float.
Breath deeply. Breathing deeply will not only help you stay calm, it will also allow you to float. Get as much air as possible. It is impossible to "sink" if your lungs are filled with air
Step 2. Lie on your back and "swim"
If you are sunk to your hips or deeper, lean back. The better you distribute your weight, the harder it will be to sink. Float on your back and slowly release your legs. Once your legs are free, you can save yourself by using your arms for thrust. If you are near the levees, you can roll to dry land.
Step 3. Use a cane
Carry a large stick with you to check the terrain whenever you hike in quicksand terrain. As soon as you feel your ankles sink, place the stick horizontally behind you. Fall onto your back on top of the pole. After a few minutes, you will reach balance and stop sinking. Move the stick to a new position; put it under your hips. The stick will prevent you from sinking again, and you can slowly pull one leg out, and then the other.
Lie flat on your back with your arms and legs resting entirely on the surface, and use the cane as a guide
Step 4. Take lots of breaks
The work to be done could be exhausting, so it will be necessary to better manage your strength, without getting too tired.
- You still have to move, as the sand could block circulation, numbing your legs and preventing you from freeing yourself unaided.
- Contrary to what is seen on television and movies, quicksand-related accidents are not due to sinking, but to freezing or drowning when the tide returns.
Part 3 of 3: Avoiding the quicksand
Step 1. Learn to identify areas where quicksand is often found
While it is true that quicksand is not made up of a single type of soil, it can form in any place where mud mixes with sandy soils, creating a particular thick sludge. Learning to predict where these conditions may occur is the best way to avoid getting into them. Quicksand is usually found on:
- Beaches subject to low tide
- Swamps or marshes
- Near the shores of the lakes
- Near fresh water springs
Step 2. Check for ripples
Watch out for soils that seem unstable and wet, or sand that has unnatural ripples on the surface. You may also see some water leaking from under the sand, which makes quicksand quite recognizable if you're careful enough.
Step 3. Check the ground in front of you with a stick
Always carry a fairly sturdy cane with you, which you can use either in case it gets stuck or to test the ground in front of you as you walk. Carrying a cane with you could be the difference between getting bogged down in quicksand and a healthy hike.
Advice
- If you are hiking with someone else in an area where you may easily encounter quicksand, bring a rope at least 5m long. In this way, if one of the two ends up in quicksand, the other can be sheltered on the mainland and bring the victim to safety. If the person on land is not strong enough to pull it out, the rope may be tied to a tree or something fixed so that it can pull itself out.
- Relax and hold on as much as you can without losing control.
