Quicksand is a misnomer since it isn’t always sand—it can be any clump of sand, clay, or dirt particles containing trapped water. The water transforms the “sand” into thick liquid mud that crumbles under the weight of moving objects. The quicksand then hardens, trapping whatever has sunk into its depths. Quicksand, unlike normal mud, can appear solid at first appearance. This earth does not liquefy under a person’s feet unless he or she tries to step through it. Quicksand—that is, sand that is soaked with water and acts like a liquid—can be a mucky nuisance, but it’s virtually impossible to perish in the manner depicted in movies. This is due to the fact that quicksand is denser than the human body. People and animals can become trapped in it, but they do not sink to the bottom; instead, they float on the surface. Our legs are fairly dense, so they may sink, but our torso, which houses our lungs, is buoyant enough to keep us out of trouble.
When you have to deal with a sinking swamp (including quicksand areas like you see in movies or) what should you do? As you moved deeper into the jungle, you developed a short leg and fell into the swamp. In these situations, you will typically fall forward on his stomach and immediately stand up or fall down in a vertical position. You will stand up with his back to the shore in any event. Now, if you use the strategies below, you’ll have a very good chance of getting back to shore.
What To Do?
Calm down, don’t struggle, and don’t try to lift your feet. Any attempt to make you struggle will result in attrition and, more crucially, will cause you to sink faster.
Remove backpacks and clothing, but do not discard! Simply use them as a float and a fulcrum to lift you as high as possible. Because mud is not like water, you should use your bags to maximize the contact area.
To increase the contact area, quickly bend backward (facing upwards with your head pointed towards the coast) and outstretch your arms.
Draw each leg up as much as possible slowly. When they’re free, slowly push your body forward with both arms and legs. This action is also simple; simply stretch both hands sideways and over your head to push yourself up. Try to catch swamp grass and use it as a fulcrum to propel yourself forward.
To synchronize motions, exercise your body like a snake slithering.
Even if you don’t know what you’ve sunk through the muck, you can check to see whether they’re still moving. Keep in mind that if the distance from the coast isn’t too great, you have a good chance of getting there.
Avoid This!
- Panic: Despite what you might see in movies, people aren’t dense enough to sink completely into quicksand. It will be easier to escape if you keep your wits about you.
- Heave-ho: Even if it’s tempting, don’t ask your hiking companions to help you out of your sand trap. Pulling up against the tremendous quicksand vacuum will be more successful than slow and steady efforts.
- Swing your arms around Back float, rather than backstroke, your way out. To avoid further liquefying the quicksand, keep your arm motions small and near to your core.
- Front Float: Avoid attempting to float out on your tummy! The risk of having your head caught in quicksand is increased as a result of this.
