If you fall into quicksand,
the last thing you want to do
is struggle.
Remember,
quicksand is denser than water;
the more you move, the more you sink.
Don't panic,
but you need to get out fast.
Your legs are in a vice,
and the pressure on your cells
can do some serious damage.
If your legs are trapped
for an extended period,
you could experience crush syndrome.
When your body doesn't
have enough oxygen,
it starts pumping out lactic acid,
which can cause your cells
to break down
and even straight up die.
Just like how exercising
too much can make your muscles hurt,
this burning
sensation you're feeling
is the buildup of lactic
acid in your muscles.
But here's where things
get really serious.
Once you're freed from the quicksand,
it gets so much worse.
How much worse?
Stick around!
We’ll break down
all the nightmare scenarios.
But more importantly, how to escape.
But first, let’s get a quick recap
on what
quicksand actually is.
Quicksand is a mixture of sand,
water, clay, silt, and sediment.
But, sometimes,
it’s just a simple recipe
of air and sand.
You’ll find quicksand all over the world,
but it’s most common near the coasts,
in marshes, or on riverbanks.
And get this;
dry quicksand even occurs in deserts
and on other planets.
Yeah, like Mars.
Now, here's
where things get really interesting.
Quicksand is a non-Newtonian fluid,
which is just a fancy way
of saying its viscosity changes
depending on how much force it is under.
When it's undisturbed, it looks solid,
but when you step on it,
its viscosity lowers,
and you start to sink.
And the more you move,
the more liquid
it becomes, making you sink even deeper.
So how the f*** do you get out?
Well, if you’re carrying
any heavy items,
like bags or jackets,
it’s time to let them go.
Yeah, I realize it was expensive,
but it’s better than the alternative.
By lightening your load,
you’ll decrease your weight
and slow down your sinking speed.
Next, try leaning back
and wiggling your feet around.
This will help to loosen up the water
and make it easier for you to move.
But, not too much, OK?
Make sure you stay calm.
Don't panic.
That's only going
to make things worse.
Once your legs are free,
use your arms
to slowly inch yourself
towards solid ground,
like you're swimming.
I know it's hard.
Maybe you could look
for something to grab onto?
If you're lucky enough to have a friend
with you,
grab onto their hand for support.
Just make sure you tell them not to pull.
That could be horrific.
Yeah.
According to a physics professor
at the University of Amsterdam,
if they pull too hard,
they could literally tear you in two.
And if you don't have any friends,
a nearby branch will do.
Grab it as tight as you can
and put as much weight
as possible onto it.
This will help to slow down your sinking
and keep you afloat.
Friends?
Who needs them? Just me and you, "Branch."
Oh, what's that?
You want them to like and subscribe?
Yeah, that would help the channel,
Oh Branch, that's so sweet.
I really care about you too.
Shout for help as loudly as possible;
if you can reach your phone,
dial 911 immediately.
Time is of the essence here,
because being
stuck in quicksand for too long
can lead to hypothermia.
Oh, did I not mention that earlier?
Your core body
temperature sits around 37 ºC (98.6 ºF).
But in quicksand,
you lose body heat
up to 25 times faster than on land
so hypothermia can set in fast.
At -34 ºC (-30 ºF), it can happen
in just 10 minutes!
You can look forward to symptoms
like shivering,
weakness, confusion, and even amnesia.
If your body temperature drops
below 21 ºC (70 ºF),
it might be lights out.
OK, you're starting to panic again.
Breathe in, breathe out.
This will help
regulate your heart rate
and prevent hyperventilation.
Taking deep breaths helps
to fill your lungs with air,
which will make you more buoyant
and help you to float
on top of the quicksand.
Imagine yourself breathing calmly
and exhaling
any tension or anxiety
you might be feeling.
Now
grab that tree root and pull, kid!
I can’t believe it!
You escaped!
There’s, uh, there’s just one thing.
Remember how we said
crush syndrome
gets worse once you’re freed?
When you finally get out,
all the nasty stuff
from those dead cells floods
your body
like a nasty little toxin parade.
Stuff like potassium.
Too much of that can mess up
your heart’s rhythm.
Myoglobin.
This is going to clog up your kidneys.
And all those other toxins?
They’re
going to cause your liver
and lungs to go haywire.
Yay…
You did pretty well,
but how would you handle
being trapped underwater?
What could kill you
before you drown?
Find out here
on How to Survive.