If you’re like me and think you don’t need to know about how to survive quicksand, you may be wrong. But more about that story later. In this post, you’re going to learn the quicksand facts, the common myths and misconceptions, and most importantly, the tips and techniques to escape quicksand safely. You’ll learn that quicksand is not as deadly or bottomless as you may think, and that with the right knowledge, you can navigate it without incident. So, whether you’re an avid outdoors enthusiast, a curious learner, or simply someone who wants to be prepared for any situation, this post is for you.

How to survive quicksand: TL;DR

1. Avoid it! Learn how to spot it or use a walking stick to test the ground in front of you.
2. Stay calm and still. Panicking will only cause you to sink deeper. Do some deep breathing.
3. Gradually move your legs and arms to redistribute your weight and float more on the surface.
4. If you’re with someone, get them to find something flat and wide – a plank, bushwalking stick, corrugated iron sheet, for example – to lay over the top of the quicksand and use as bridge to solid ground.
5. Slowly and carefully try to free your legs. Pull one foot out at a time, and then move it to solid ground. If you can’t move your feet, lay on top of the flat object.
6. Once you have an anchor to solid ground, keep moving slowly and steadily until you are completely out of the quicksand.
7. Carry a survival kit. If you are unable to get yourself out, use the PLB in your survival kit to get help.
8. Remember to never try to stand up when you are in quicksand, it will only make it harder to get out.

These quicksand facts and common myths can help you survive quicksand

1. Quicksand occurs when water seeps into the ground and mixes with loose sediment, creating a slurry that is not solid enough to support weight.
2. It’s found most commonly near river deltas in swamps and marshes, where sand and water mix.
3. But, you can encounter quicksand in many different types of environments like beaches, deserts, and even in urban areas near construction sites.
4. Quicksand is not always visible. It can be hidden under a thin layer of sediment or water, making it difficult to spot and avoid.
5. The mix of water and sand doesn’t liquify immediately. This means you may have a few seconds to avoid sinking.
6. Quicksand is not a bottomless pit. It is typically not that deep, only a few feet or less than a meter.
7. Quicksand cannot suck you under. It is not a vacuum. It is more like a fluid that increases in density the more weight is added to it, making it difficult to move through or get out of.
8. Quicksand is not deadly. The biggest risk from quicksand is drowning and exposure. If you get stuck, can’t get out, and become exhausted. You could die from exposure to the elements or from drowning if you’re near a tidal river and the tide comes in.

If you know basic quicksand facts, the risk of injury or death is very minor. And it can save you (and your sheep) in some other hairy situations, like it did for me. So lets take a look at exactly how to survive quicksand.

Why does quicksand make you sink?

Quicksand traps people because it is a mixture of water and sediment (fine sand) that is not solid enough to support weight.

When you step into quicksand, their weight causes the fine sand to separate and the water to rise to the surface, making it difficult to move and ultimately trapping you.

The more you struggle and move, the more you separate the sediment and water, causing you to sink deeper into the quicksand.

Also, because the density of quicksand increases as more weight is added to it, it can become harder to move or get out as you sink deeper in it.

How to survive quicksand by not sinking

Knowing the science of quicksand helps you get out. If you get stuck in quicksand in real life, do everything you can to stop sinking. Here are the dos and don’ts of how to survive quicksand by yourself:

Do:

• Carry a walking stick if you’re in an area known for quicksand. You can use it to test how solid the ground is in front of you. You can also use it to lay across quicksand if trapped. Laying on top of your walking stick can help you move across the surface of this murky mix.
• Wear shoes you can easily slip out of in quicksand country. Shoes create suction in quicksand because they’re not malleable. Slipping out of them can help you survive.
• Also carry an emergency or survival kit with you that includes a signalling device like a Personal Locator Beacon.
• If you feel your feet sinking, quickly take a few light steps back onto solid ground.
• If you do become stuck, stay as still as you can and when you move, move slowly and purposefully. Imagine you’re a sloth and move that slowly. Remember, every move you make separates the sediment from water and can make escape harder.
• Lighten the load or weight of your body in the quicksand. Throw your backpack or any other weight you’re carrying back onto solid ground. Remember to grab your PLB or other signalling device from your survival kit before you do this just in case you need to call for help.
• Try to disperse your weight over a larger area. You can do this by increasing your surface area on top of the quicksand. If your feet are stuck, lean back towards solid ground. Keep your body as horizontal as possible to avoid disturbing the sediment below.

Don’t:

• Struggle, thrash or move about. You’re prone to get exhausted and sink deeper doing this.
• Ty to stand up: Standing up will increase your weight over a smaller area, making you sink further.
• Try to swim: Quicksand is not a liquid, it’s a mixture of water and sediment. You cannot swim in quicksand, it will only make it harder to get out.
• Move off designated trails if you’re in quicksand country. You’re more likely to come across trouble if you’re off the beaten track.

The day I helped a friend survive quicksand (sort of)

It was just another ordinary day in the countryside when we spotted a sheep stranded up to it’s belly in a giant pile of lime. The type farmers use for fertiliser. Sheep like to be high up, and this one wanted to climb up on top of the pile.

Not thinking anything of it, my friend waded on in to help the sheep. Three steps in and both of them were stuck like glue.

At first, I couldn’t stop laughing at the absurdity of the situation. But then I realized, it was no laughing matter. That giant pile of lime was so wet it had become like quicksand. Neither my friend nor the sheep had any hope of getting out themselves.

I had to think about how to get them out before the lime dried like concrete (or they spent a freezing night there). I told my friend to just stay still while we worked out what to do.

After a few minutes scanning the farmyard, I found a sheet of corrugated iron that I knew could save the day. I pulled it over to the lime and lay it on top between my friend and I. I told my friend to pull out one leg slowly and gently place it on the iron. After a few minutes of slow pulling, he had climbed on top of the iron.

It worked! The iron spread his weight and didn’t sink.

We used the sheeting as a makeshift bridge to help my friend out of the limey abyss. From there, he was able to put a rope around the sheep and we pulled it up slowly on to the sheet.

It took all the strength we had to save that sheep but now both it and my friend owe me big time!

Conclusion

Understanding quicksand and knowing how to avoid sinking in it can be the key to survival. By paying attention to the environment, and staying on designated trails, you can reduce the risk of ending up in quicksand. Remember, if you do find yourself in quicksand, the most important thing is to remain calm and avoid sinking. Take slow, steady movements horizontally to get yourself to solid ground. With the right knowledge and survival kit equipment, you can avoid getting inescapably caught in quicksand or get yourself rescued if you just can’t get out.

FAQs

How to spot quicksand

Quicksand can be difficult to spot because it can be hidden under a thin layer of sediment or water. However, there are some warning signs that can indicate the presence of quicksand:

1. Rippled or disturbed surface: Quicksand can cause the surface of the ground to appear rippled or disturbed, indicating that it is not solid.
2. Mud bubbles: Quicksand can create bubbles on the surface of the ground, which can indicate that there is water and sediment beneath the surface.
3. Water on the surface: Quicksand can be found in areas where water is present and can appear as a wet, mucky area on the ground.
4. Unusual color or texture: Quicksand can have a different color or texture than the surrounding ground, it can be more translucent or shinier than the surrounding area.

Can quicksand kill you?

Quicksand doesn’t kill you. The biggest dangers from quicksand are from incoming tides and drowning in tidal areas, or from exposure to the elements.

How many quicksand deaths per year are there?

So few, if any, that it’s not ‘a thing’. Dying in quicksand not a common phenomenon and there only a few recent recorded deaths from quicksand in the United States and none from Australia over the last decade.

What is at the bottom of quicksand?

Rock! Or solid ground. That’s why most people that end up in quicksand find themselves able to stand up.