Should Michiganders Really Be Worried About Quicksand?

Many of the movies I watched growing up like Indiana Jones and the Princess Bride featured iconic scenes that involved the main characters unwittingly stepping onto sand and beginning to sink. These scenes had me thinking any wrong step could lead to a slow, sad death.

But is quicksand something people really need to be afraid of? Michigan has quite a few dunes. Are we playing with fate each time we visit the Sleeping Bear Dunes?

What Causes Quicksand?

What causes quicksand is generally the same despite there being both wet and dry quicksand. According to the BBC:

Since sand is a lot of tiny pieces compact together, when sand and water mix, it causes the sand to loosen up and become impressionable, allowing a person to sink.

Perhaps the most ironic part of quicksand is that it is anything but quick. The more someone moves while stuck in the sand, the more they sink. But you really need to move to allow the sand to absorb you quickly, otherwise a stationary victim will hardly sink.

Is Quicksand In Michigan?

Quicksand can technically happen in any sand so long as the weather conditions are perfect. A beach in Midland had "quick-sand-like conditions" back in 2020 that required someone to be rescued by emergency workers.

Can Quicksand Kill You?

The short answer is no, quicksand itself won't kill you. Despite the truth that you do sink in quicksand, a person doesn't tend to sink past their waist due to buoyancy. A person eventually floats back up, especially if they aren't quickly moving.

The danger of quicksand comes from being unable to get assistance from someone outside the sand. Being stuck in the same spot for an extended time opens people up to other dangers, like drowning if the tide were to come in.

How To Escape Quicksand

Usually, the best way to get out of quicksand is with the assistance of someone not stuck in the quicksand. However, National Geographic claims that if you're by yourself, the best way to get out is by making very small movements or lying backward and allowing yourself to float back up.

Overall, while quicksand is technically something that can happen in Michigan, it really isn't something anyone should worry about in their daily lives. If you encounter sand or dirt in a water-logged area, it's best to steer clear just to be safe.