Deserts are among the most treacherous places that a person can get stranded in. With the many unique challenges that are found in deserts, you need to know how to get around them to survive in desert. Read on to find out some exceptional desert survival tips.
Are you well-equipped to survive in a desert in the case of an emergency or accident? If you are planning on traveling anywhere amidst the vast stretches of arid land, it is prudent to consider studying about desert survival before you embark on your journey. However, as much as having a good pool of knowledge is vital for your desert survival; it is good to note that you don`t have to be a survival expert to ensure that you conquer the harsh desert environment. As long as you keep some crucial tips in mind, you will be fine.
It is true that the more significant percentage of the survival mentality is the same regardless of the place you find yourself. However, when it comes to the desert set up, you should remember that survival hangs on the balance between keeping warm during the chilly nights and escaping from the sweltering heat during the day. In addition to this, you need to conserve the water you`re carrying while also drinking just enough to ensure that you remain alive. These are just some of the various basics that we`ll talk about in this article to ensure that you have an exceptional and workable desert survival guide.
1. Keep a Lid on It
One of the biggest challenges in survival in the desert is exposure to the sun`s immense heat during the day and the harsh cold at night. Neither of these two aspects of survival should be taken lightly as they are the most common causes of people succumbing in the desert. For protection against the sun`s heat, the best option you have is steering clear of it or having a covering over your head. Once your head`s top is exposed directly to the sun for long hours, your body will strain itself to keep fresh.
2. Get Under Cover
This is a tactic that is used synergistically with covering your head. The only difference with this is that it helps in taking care of other body parts apart from your head. Finding shade or even coming up with shade shelters should be among your priorities to survive in desert. In addition to helping you to stay away from the sun`s direct heat, it helps you to conserve as much water as possible.
Depending on where you are, it is possible to find shades from cactus or small shrubs, or you may be required to look for places where you will find adequate shelter from the sun even for a small portion of the day. Some of these places that you should look out for include; ravines or on the upper side of the outcropping or rocks. In a nutshell, the general idea that should be ringing in your mind is finding a means by which you will not be in the direct path of the sun`s rays.
3. Refrain from Drinking the Water
For you to master the art of desert survival, you have to learn how not to drink water the minute you feel thirsty. The best tactic is conserving the water by rationing it and taking it in small portions throughout your day. After doing so, you can assess your hydration by observing your urine color. If it`s light in color, then you are okay, but when it turns dark, it shows that your body requires some water.
Also, in case you come across some water sources in the desert, you should be extremely cautious before you begin gulping it. This is because if it`s contaminated, you will lose your body`s water through diarrhea and vomiting.
4. Stay Hungry in the Desert Survival Situation
It is scientifically proven that the more food you eat, the higher the chances of getting thirstier. In light of this, in case you have food, the best desert survival tactics dictate that you should eat only enough to keep hunger pangs away as well as ensure that you have adequate energy. Remember that your body can survive longer without taking food as compared to staying without water. Therefore, your primary objective should be avoiding to increase your thirst.
5. For Optimum Desert Survival, Maintain Your Cool
Panic is one of the most potent enemies of desert survival skills. This is because it prevents you from calmly assessing your predicament and working out the next best step. By keeping a cool head in the desert, you will be better placed to finding a way out of unfortunate or life-threatening situations.
6. Make Your Mark
In case you decide to embark on getting back towards civilization, you should ensure that you have marked your original location as well as the direction in which you are traveling towards. You can do this by using sticks or rocks and scratching into the arid ground. Before you start moving, ensure that you mark a specific object in the direction that you are traveling towards. You should then use this landmark to assist you to keep on track.
7. Ensure that Your Mouth Remains Shut
When you`re moving about in a bid to find water or shelter, it is advisable for you to keep your energy use as low as you can. Move slowly to avoid breaking into a sweat and also keep your mouth shut to conserve water in your body by slowing the dehydration rate from your breathing pattern. You can use your desert survival clothes to form something similar to a bandanna to cover your mouth.
Conclusion
Deserts are some of the most hostile environments that a person can find him/herself in. Laced with myriads of challenges, deserts require a person who has in-depth knowledge of what to do to emerge out of the other side of the tunnel alive. With the above tips, you can rest assured that the desert survival situation will be comfortable for you.
Have you ever been in a situation requiring desert survival gear and skills? How did you emerge in one piece? Please share with us by commenting below.
Author Bio:
Malcolm Cano is a scientist on biology corner, professional angler, baseball and hunting lover. Malcolm also has some own projects, including fishing guide school and GearExpertGuides.