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Getting Out of Quicksand
There you are, crossing the dunes in some desert landscape, perhaps in Utah or Africa, and you stop to ponder the beauty of the place. But suddenly, you realize something is amiss, the world is rising before your yes. No wait! You are sinking, that's what's happening. You are sinking in quicksand.A possibility? Probably not quite like I describe it. That came from a scene in Blazing Saddles or some cartoon I saw as a kid. The fact is, I've never really seen quicksand before and am not quite sure I believe it even exists...at least not as something that can consume you and kill you.
That said, I am always eager to help gadling readers help themselves. To wit: here is a fine little how to, a save yourself treatise on getting out of quicksand, should you be so unfortunate as to find yourself sinking as described above. The lessons taught in this little wiki might seem rather obvious (lesson 1: avoid quicksand. Ah, thank you, Dr. Einstein), but others are perhaps less so...for example Walk softly and carry a big stick, the idea being that you will test the ground in places where you believe there might be quicksand. Yeah, OK, maybe that's pretty obvious too. Maybe the best idea is just to stay safe indoors.
Naw, me neither.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, Learning
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Rhea Dec 12th 2006 10:49AM
Seeing actual quicksand, not the cartoon kind, would be terrifying.
Blue Sasm Dec 12th 2006 11:29PM
I seen on Mythbuster that saying that quicksand isn't quite deadly as you thought from cartoon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBusters_(season_2)#Episode_19_.E2.80.94_.22Killer_Quicksand.22
Gavin the photographer Dec 13th 2006 4:40AM
Movies exaggerate, though you can still get in trouble if you are not careful. I've stepped in a 1/2 foot of quicksand, but I can't imagine if it were deeper than I am tall.
ron van Dec 16th 2006 7:33AM
I have been in quick sand up to my waist.It does exist.I have had clients get in it and it is hard to pull them out.The quick sand I have been in was where a stream came into a lake and it was almost like the sand was floating in water.
Paul Dec 16th 2006 7:49AM
I was in what you would call "quick mud" the soft oozy stuff you find in swamps (Everglades or Louisiana Bayou). When you walk thru certain areas, you can literally get stuck and start to sink gradually, the more you try to pull out of the muck, the deeper in you seem to get. I have lost my boots trying to pull my foot free from that muck and on some occassions, you can sink up to your waist, and begin to wonder if you will get out! Im sure quicksand is the same thing, only with a more sandy bottom.
Amy Dec 16th 2006 7:43AM
One of my high school science teachers said all you have to do is float on your back. I don't know if that's true, but if I was in a situation where I was sinking in quicksand, I would probably try it.
Carlo Dec 16th 2006 8:32AM
Upsate NY & S.VietNam & it was very real. My sister got me out in NY & my comrades in RVN.
Ryan Dec 16th 2006 10:13AM
Quicksand in movie form does NOT exist. This has been tested on Mythbusters.
Terry Casablanca Dec 16th 2006 8:42AM
I think(if I could) I would try to swim my way out.
Kathy Dec 16th 2006 8:47AM
Never really seen quicksand "BEFORE"
BEFORE????? Before WHAT?
Who is writing this stuff? Obviously not someone with any English grammar training.
Jamie Dec 16th 2006 9:03AM
If you are ever stuck in quicksand, first do not panic; second hold still and keep your arms above it. Most quicksand has a bottom & is normally not deep, but the more you struggle, the more you will sink. Once you stop moving (if there is no one to help) very carefully start walking to the edge. You should be able to get out.
Don Dec 16th 2006 9:04AM
We sure have quicksand here in West Tennessee.
Found in almost any swamp and will sink you to your rib cage. You really get in trouble if there is a few feet of water over the quicksand! The quicksand will NOT kill you... However, the water will.
Charles Westmoreland Dec 16th 2006 9:13AM
I think the only thing you can do in quicksand pretty much is say your prayers and kiss your a** goodbye.
RICHARD ADDRISI Dec 18th 2006 10:00AM
I WAS WALKING INTO THE IRS BUILDING IN LOS ANGELES, THE FLOOR WAS A SANDY COLOR,EVERYTHING LOOKED PRETTY SAVE TO ME.BUT FIVE STEPS IN THE DOOR THE SANDY COLORED MARBEL SUDDENLY TURNED INTO QUIKSAND. I OF COURSE YELLED FOR HELP--NO-ONE CAME!!!FINALLY SCREAMED OUT MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUM. AND A IRS AGENT CAME TO MY RESCUE.HE SLID ON HIS BELLY AND YELLED TO ME "CRAB ON TO THIS" IT WAS A #2 LEAD PENCIL,BUT IT WAS TO SLIPPERY FROM THE SWEAT OF A THOUSAND AUDITS I COULDN'T HOLD ON.HE YELLED OUT IN WHAT SEEMED TO BE A RECORDED VOICE "DON'T SQUIRM IT WON'T HELP YOU" I WAS SURELY LOST.
BUT A-LAS I SPOTTED MY PAPER BAG OF DEDUCTIONS FLOATING ON THE SUFACE--A-HA-- I'LL SPREAD THEM OUT AND CREATE A DRY SURFACE TO CRUAL ON. AS I UNFOLDED MY CREDIT CARD RECIEPTS-FOR RESTRAUNTS,HOTELS,TRIPS TO THE CAMAN ISLELANDS, DOGGY CARE PET FOOD AND A GIFT FOR MY SECREATARY [SHE'S REALLY SPECIAL TO ME]THE AGENT PUT ON HIS IRS SPECIAL GLASSES [MAGNIFIED,INFARED,WITH A LIE DETECTOR SENSOR BUILT IN, AND SAID "SIR, DO YOU MAKE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR? "NO I SAID",WELL PRESIDENT BUSH HAS GIVEN SPECIAL TAX CREDITS TO THOSE WHO ARE RICH AND I'M SORRY BUT YOU CAN'T USE THESE DEDUCTIONS TO SAVE YOURSELF.
SO NOW AS IN JIMMY HOFFAS CASE, I LYE UNDER A SOLID SLAB OF MARBLE--UNDER THE FLOOR OF THE IRS BUILDING.
PS.IF SOME DAY YOU WALK IN --AND THROUGH A CRACK IN THE MARBLE YOU SEE A RECIEPT FROM ZALES JEWERY WITH AN INSCRIPTION "WHO'S YOUR DADDY" PLEASE RIP IT UP.
FOR I CAN SEE MY WIFE JACKHAMMERING UP THE FLOOR TO GET TO ME,JUST TO PISS ON MY GRAVE!!!!!!
THANKS --------------R-------------------
Lisa Dec 16th 2006 9:28AM
The only thing that I have ever comeinto contact with that is close to quicksand is sediment. Last year my town emptied a pond behind my house due to harmful sediment that had been disposed into it from a construction site. I went out back to retrieve some items my dog and kids had, over the years, "lost" in the pond. I started sinking and kept sinking until I was up to my knees. If I hadn't stopped sinking I think I would have gone all the way. The sediment "mud" was so heavy I lost both boots and a pair of socks. I crawled out of it, that was the only way, and I am no couch potato. Even the excavation trucks and the back hoes got stuck and a fire truck came to pull them out, so quicksand, no I am scared of mud!!!
K. Jesse Dec 16th 2006 9:29AM
If you get caught in quicksand, simply lie down and swim out. It is a solution of sand and water that lacks the density to support the weight of a person in a standing position.
Ryan Dec 16th 2006 9:33AM
Quicksand DOES NOT pull you under. Quicksand is more dense than a human body so therefore you float and it actually pushes you Upwards if you somehow get under it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quicksand
Paula Dec 16th 2006 9:38AM
Regarding Richard Addrisi's hilarious quick sand story involving the IRS; that was just too hilarious. I giggled all the while I was reading it. You're a great story teller. It's too bad you can't spell for crap though!! P.S. I won't tell your wife about the Zales receipt. :o)
Dave Dec 16th 2006 9:41AM
Richard.......very clever post and quite amusing but for chrissakes willya PLEASE learn how to spell, geeez I cant believe that many misspellings in one post
Jane Dec 16th 2006 9:43AM
My husband has worked in Africa and he assures me that there is quicksand and it should be avoided. Now I have heard that you will not sink all the way in, but I have also heard of people sinking almost entirely except an arm sticking out.