One of the disputable things that we learnt from films is our idea of the quicksand. Does it really suck us to death? Quicksand is nothing but sand saturated with water, where the friction between sand particles is reduced. It is a mushy mixture of sand and saltwater. When you step into one, it does not immediately suck you in, rather it allows you to float, as quicksand is denser than water. It is your movement arising out of panic that digs you deeper into the pit. Because the human body is not dense enough to go all the way under, you would descend up to your waist, but no further.
At rest, quicksand thickens with time, hence your legs may get strongly held by it. But it remains very sensitive to small variations in stress. If you learn how to turn it around to your advantage, you can escape its clutches.
How to escape?
Asking your friend to pull you out doesn’t work. The best way is to wriggle your legs around. This creates space between the legs and the quicksand through which water can flow down to loosen up the sand. You can get out safely using this technique. But it requires a lot of patience and considerable amount of force.
Picture Credit : Google
