Water levels are low at present in the numerous lakes and rivers that make our very own Jiangsu known as “The Water Province”. As a result, many usually-unexposed sands and mud flats can look like a fun distraction. But they can be deadly.
目前，众多湖泊河流水位较低，使我们的江苏被誉为“水省”。因此，许多通常不暴露的沙地和泥滩看起来可能是一种有趣的消遣。但它们可能是致命的。
Locals know this of course, but tourists don’t. It was therefore this Monday, 10 October, that five visitors to Nantong City in Jiangsu found themselves in real trouble.
当地人当然知道这一点，但游客却不知道。因此，10 月 10 日星期一，五名前往江苏南通市的游客发现自己遇到了真正的麻烦。
They had wandered out onto a local beach along the Yangtze River. But with Nantong only about 70 kilometres inland from the East China Sea at Shanghai, the River there is highly tidal.
他们漫步到当地长江沿岸的一个海滩上。但南通距离上海东海内陆仅约70公里，那里的河流潮汐非常严重。
The problem with quicksand is it appears solid, but in fact it is more of a gel. Technically a non-Newtonian fluid, stepping on quicksand initially lowers its viscosity, meaning a person will start to sink into it.
流沙的问题在于它看起来是固体，但实际上它更像是凝胶。从技术上讲，这是一种非牛顿流体，踩在流沙上最初会降低其粘度，这意味着人会开始陷入其中。
This is exactly what happened to the five tourists in Nantong. Having received their call, first responders arrived on the scene to find the tourists trapped in the quicksand some distance away from shore and the incoming tide beyond.
这正是南通五名游客身上发生的事情。接到电话后，急救人员赶到现场，发现游客被困在流沙中，距离海岸有一段距离，远处正在涨潮。
In a report published by The Paper, local police station instructor, Lu Jian, explained the emergency services’ actions. To avoid becoming stuck themselves, rescue workers crawled out to the stranded tourists. By attaching ropes to them, officers on the river bank were able to pull all five out to safety.
在澎湃新闻发表的一篇报道中，当地派出所教导员陆健解释了应急部门的行动。为了避免自己被困，救援人员爬到被困游客身边。通过给他们系上绳索，河岸上的警察能够将所有五人拉到安全的地方。
The ropes had quite literally become their lifeline.
绳索确实成了他们的生命线。
The Nanjinger advises any reader who becomes stuck in quicksand to not just try to pull their feet out. This can require the same force as that needed to lift a car. In fact it will just make things worse.
《南京人》建议任何陷入流沙的读者不要只是试图把脚拔出来。这可能需要与举起汽车所需的力相同的力。事实上，这只会让事情变得更糟。
Instead, the trick is to make yourself lighter. Sit down and lie back. Your increased surface area in contact with the sand reduces pressure, while you should also be able at this point to wriggle your feet free. Remaining lying, you can then slither, snake style, back to safety. Or, simply taking your shoes off can be a more-simple, less-messy solution.
相反，诀窍是让自己变得更轻松。坐下来，躺下来。与沙子接触的表面积增加可以减少压力，同时您此时也应该能够扭动双脚。继续躺着，然后你可以像蛇一样滑行，回到安全地带。或者，简单地脱掉鞋子可能是一个更简单、更整洁的解决方案。
Above all, don’t panic. Given the density of quicksand averages 2 grams per millilitre and the average human about 1 gram per millilitre, unlike in the movies, you will only ever sink in waist deep.
最重要的是，不要惊慌。考虑到流沙的密度平均为每毫升 2 克，而人类的平均密度约为每毫升 1 克，与电影中不同，你只会陷入齐腰深的地方。
