Quicksand is made of four substances, sand, salt, water and clay. These materials form a structure similar to a house of cards. It is safe as long as the structure is not disturbed, for instance, by a human or animal stepping on it. The sand, water and clay form a loose structure with the clay acting as glue. When disturbed the sand sinks to the bottom and the water floats to the top. The clay starts to move and the salt creates an electrical charge. This results in the clay particles sticking together in bigger pieces and sinking to the bottom. The quicksand is actually twice as dense as the human body, therefore it is not possible to sink more than halfway or near chest level on your body.
Being stuck in the quicksand is not going to drown or kill you unless you exhaust yourself or do something foolish -- it simply isn't possible unless you dive in head first. Keep your attitude positive and maintain a cool head so that you can use intelligence to escape safely out of the quicksand. Remind yourself that you will live to tell of your adventure.
Making small circles with your body parts allows the water to mix with the sand, salt and clay particles. This causes the quicksand to liquefy again and release you. Making the circle actions with your arms, legs, shoulders and any other body part you can move allows another person to pull you out with less difficulty.
If no one is around, yell for help to try to summon assistance. Don't exhaust yourself by repeatedly screaming. Yell loudly five or six times and then wait about five minutes before yelling again. This conserves your energy, and as a search party or individual passes close by, it gives them an opportunity to hear your cry for help. If you cannot locate anyone to assist you, realize that it is possible to escape from the quicksand on your own. Lay on your back in a spread eagle fashion and float. The quicksand actually supports your body better than water alone. Move your arms and legs in slow, swimming motion to a more stable location and simply roll or crawl out onto more stable ground.
