Does quicksand pull you under and suffocate you?

Quicksand is fine sand, silt or clay that has mixed with water. It appears to be solid ground, but is closer to water than earth. Quicksand can be found anywhere water is present, such as a marsh or riverbank, or near a coast.

The exaggerated dangers of quicksand, like many other exaggerations, comes from Hollywood. Quicksand can be hazardous, but not usually life threatening.

When you step into quicksand, you sink, just as you would sink if you stepped in a deep pool of water. However, since quicksand is denser than water, floating is easier. Thrashing about like the hapless victim in a movie, is not the recommended course of action. Rather you should slowly move your legs back and forth – this will allow water to flow in the space created by your legs, loosening the sand’s grip and allowing you to swim, or float, upward.