How to Get out of Quicksand

Uh oh. You're hiking alone in the wilderness, looking up at the birds and whistling a happy song, when suddenly you find yourself trapped in quicksand and sinking fast. Certain muddy death? Not quite. While quicksand isn't nearly as dangerous as it looks in the movies, it is a real phenomenon. Just about any sand or silt can temporarily become quicksand if it is sufficiently saturated with water and/or subjected to vibrations, such as occur during an earthquake--thus it can occur nearly anywhere. Quicksand should definitely be avoided, if possible, but you needn't fear it. Here's what to do if you find yourself sinking.

Steps

1. Avoid quicksand.