Sand piles can be extremely dangerous; they can collapse as quickly as water flows. Therefore, it is vital to keep children away from sand piles and certainly not allow them to climb on top of them.
When buried under sand, it can pose life-threatening risks to the victim in two ways.
- First, the compressive force of the sand surrounding the victim can prevent the chest and diaphragm from expanding, making it impossible to breathe (according to research by Christopher Moir, a pediatric trauma surgeon at Mayo Clinic, USA).
- Second, if the sand is fine, it can enter the lungs when the victim inhales. The sand will obstruct the oxygen supply to the alveoli, where the lungs exchange oxygen for blood. The more sand that intrudes, the more it blocks air from entering those alveoli, leading to suffocation.
Sand piles are more dangerous than you think.
There are four survival skills to remember if buried under sand:
1. Stay Calm: Panic can lead to loss of control and deplete energy quickly.
2. Create Space: Use your hands or any hard object to create a space in front of you. This is crucial for breathing and calling for help. Raise your hands in front of you to create a small gap at your mouth to breathe. You can make a fist and gently punch the sand around your face to create a larger space.
If you are fortunate enough to have a hard object like a rock or tree in front of you, pull it towards you to push the sand away from your face, creating a small breathing space.
If there’s nothing available, use your head to move gently, as if nodding, to help loosen the sand and allow it to fall away from your face. Turn your head side to side to create small gaps. Do not try to stand up immediately as the large sand mass may collapse back down.
3. Breathe Through Your Mouth: Place one hand over your mouth and nose to prevent sand from entering, then inhale through your mouth and exhale through your nose as if you were underwater. Breathe slowly and deeply to conserve oxygen.
4. Move Slowly: If possible, try to crawl or inch your way slowly towards an area where there is space or towards any sounds you hear.
