Death From Quicksand: What are the chances it happens to you?

Imagine you’re hiking along a trail with a friend one evening in late July. The sun is getting ready to set, and the air is starting to cool. You begin to pick up the pace, as you need to make it back to your car before dark. Then, all of a sudden, your feet start to sink into the ground! You panic and struggle to get out, but that only makes you sink faster. You grab onto your friend’s hand and pull with all your might, but it’s no use — the ground is giving way beneath you! You’re going under! Your friend sees your hand slip under the sand and then poof — you’re gone, consumed by a pit of quicksand. It’s a true fear for lots of people: death by quicksand.

What is the reality of death by quicksand?

Well, at least that’s how it happens in Hollywood. In reality, quicksand is usually only a few feet deep, and what you see on the big screen rarely happens in real life. The danger of quicksand is actually minimal. There are very few quicksand deaths per year. Quicksand is made of just ordinary sand particles, or very fine sand mixed with water. This mush of wet sand allows you to sink because it cannot support significant weight. When you step into quicksand, the sand and shallow water will separate and give way. Although the quicksand will not suck you under if you panic and struggle, you can pull yourself in deeper.

Those people that happen to die in quicksand do not typically die from suffocating, but rather from exposure to the elements due to being stranded. Some may drown in quicksand if stuck in a spot near a large body of water, or a rising tide. Quicksand is often found near river deltas, tidal flats, lakes with sandy soil, and on beaches. Statistics on deaths from quicksand are difficult to come by. However, that doesn’t mean that quicksand deaths can’t happen.

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How do you survive quicksand?

If you find yourself stuck in quicksand, the most important thing to do is stay calm and take a few deep breaths. The human body is less dense than quicksand, so your body will tend to float on top. Try to position yourself on your back and very slowly start to wriggle your feet to let in enough water to loosen the sand. The key is to do this very slowly. As the sand loosens, you should be able to gradually work your way out and back on to solid ground.

Keep in mind that even dry quicksand can feel like firm ground but it has the potential to become quickly saturated, so it’s best to play it safe.

Even if you do panic and struggle, you most likely will not sink lower than your waist. The biggest danger is sinking low enough that your upper body is underwater but, your arms will be free and you can slowly work your way out. You may be stuck, but you won’t go under completely. Hopefully, you aren’t ‘stuck’ in the middle of nowhere when it happens!

If you’re concerned about death by quicksand, it’s probably a good idea to get some life insurance! Here’s some common life insurance questions and answers to get you started. Term life insurance might be a good option for you.

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