Picture this,
you're having a nice, relaxing walk
on a private beach
without a care in the world.
All of a sudden,
your foot drops
into a deep and mucky puddle.
You struggle to pull your leg out,
but it just won't budge.
Before you know it,
you're sinking rapidly,
and half of your body is submerged
in cold, wet quicksand.
The more you struggle,
the more you sink.
Talk about a terrible way to end a vacation.
But it doesn't have to be.
You've probably seen people
up to their neck in quicksand
in the movies,
but in real life, it's quite rare.
If you happened to slip in,
you'd likely just sink halfway.
Most of the time,
quicksand isn't actually that deep.
But it can still be incredibly dangerous.
If you're trapped
and there's no one around to help you,
you could suffer hypothermia,
dehydration
or even suffocation.
You might also be an easy target
for hungry predators.
And if you're close to the water,
watch out for the tides coming in
or heavy rainfall.
Hope you packed a snorkel.
Quicksand is found all over the planet,
but is most common near coastal areas,
marshes
and riverbanks.
There's even dry quicksand
that can be found in deserts.
Unlike mud
or regular sand,
quicksand is a non-Newtonian fluid.
Meaning, it's solid in one state,
but if anything agitates it,
it quickly turns to liquid,
causing you to sink deeper and deeper.
So, what should you do in this scenario?
First things first,
don't panic
and don't move.
Calm down
and be as still as possible.
The more you move,
the deeper you will sink.
If you have any bags,
jackets
or anything heavy on you,
take them off and throw them away.
I'm sorry, but it's you or the bling.
Less weight means you'll sink less quickly.
If you are with a friend,
grab their hand,
or grab hold of a tree branch nearby.
Put as much weight as you can
on the object you're holding onto.
This will slow down the sinking process
and help you stay afloat.
Leaning back
will increase your surface area,
making it harder for you to sink.
Wiggling your feet
will help liquefy the sand
and help you free your legs.
Once they're free,
start paddling backwards
with your arms
to move yourself to solid ground.
If your arms are stuck,
try rolling your body instead.
If all else fails,
your voice might be the only thing
that can save you.
Call for help,
and if you can reach your phone,
dial 911 immediately.
You could suffocate
if you're stuck in there for too long.
This will make your body more buoyant.
Try to meditate and focus on your breath.
It's time put those yoga classes to good use.
If you're lucky,
someone will come to the rescue,
but they need to be extra careful
about pulling you out.
They could rip you in half
if they pull too hard.
With quicksand being two times
denser than humans,
its suction is incredibly strong.
The weight of the sand
can also damage your nerves and muscles.
This is called Crush Syndrome,
and can lead to the release of compounds
that can harm your kidneys.
So, it's best to try and get your legs free
and stay flat.
This will alleviate pressure
on your muscles and organs
and let you safely return to the surface.
Dying from quicksand isn't common,
but it can still happen.
Next time you're traveling,
educate yourself ahead of time
about the dangers and risks
in the surrounding area.
Quicksand
could be the least of your problems,
especially if you're lost in the Amazon jungle.
In which case,
if you want to stay alive,
keep watching How to Survive.