How Does Quicksand Work?
Quicksand is a natural phenomenon that is formed when water gets trapped in an area of loose sand, reducing the friction between sand particles. The end result would be a mixture of water and sand that doesn’t have a firm foundation to support any weight.
Quicksand can occur anywhere and anytime, so long as a couple of key conditions are met. While this sounds scary, the phenomenon is not nearly as dangerous as the movies make it out to be. Quicksand doesn’t suck you in. It does dig you deeper if you move inside it, but never usually more than a few feet.
There are factors that can turn dry sand into quicksand. One is flowing underground water that has upward flow which causes the sand to be more lightweight. Another factor is earthquakes, which increase the pressure from shallow groundwater and loosen the foundation of sand.
How Do You Survive Quicksand?
While the movies certainly exaggerate things, it is still in your best interests to avoid getting stuck in quicksand. To do this, be aware of the places where quicksand is most likely to occur: riverbanks, beaches, lakes, shorelines, near underground springs, and in marshes.
Most people make the mistake of using brute force to try to get out of quicksand. However, the best way to get out is to keep afloat. Quicksand has a density of 125 pounds per cubic foot, making it possible to stay on the surface. If you’re ever stuck in quicksand, lay on your back and, from there, analyze your options for getting out of it.
One thing you should never do if you get stuck in quicksand is panic and move around excessively. This will tire you out and all it’s ever going to achieve is sinking you in lower and making things worse. The best thing to do is move slowly to reserve your energy and maintain your buoyancy, allowing you to continue floating on the surface of the quicksand.