There are a number of possible reasons why you would need to brush up on your desert survival skills. You can get lost or stranded in the desert while hiking. A backpacking trip in the desert could prove fatal if you hurt yourself. Maybe you’re on a plane that crash-landed in the desert or in a race across the desert when your vehicle broke down.
The point is that there is always a chance that you could be in an arid desert struggling to survive. And to do just that, you need to pack the right gear and know some valuable desert survival skills.
Desert Survival Gear
The chances of you overcoming any emergency situation become higher if you have the proper survival gear. The same principle applies when you’re stranded in the desert.
Water
A proper desert survival kit includes an ample amount of water. The rule of thumb is to have one gallon of water per person each day. That’s only for drinking. Pack extra water for cooking food. If you’re driving, bring water for your vehicle. Don’t forget to pack some water for your pets if they’re tagging along.
Sun Protection
You’re not in the desert to get a tan so a bikini is out of the question. Wear something that will protect you from the sun. Loose clothes such as long-sleeved shirts and pants are better than shirts and shorts. You also need a hat, preferably one with a wide brim. Wear a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes. Put on some sunscreen, as well.
If you have to stop in the middle of the desert, you need shelter. Bring a tent. You can also use a trap or emergency blanket to shield yourself from the sun.
First Aid Kit
Whatever you do or wherever you go, you must have a first aid kit. This becomes even more important when you’re traveling in the desert where you can be bitten by a snake, stung by a scorpion, or mauled by a mountain lion.
Knife
A knife is a constant in any survival or emergency kit. You can use it for digging, building a shelter, ripping the seat cover off your car seats, and defending yourself from threats.
Shovel
You need a shovel to dig your car out if it gets stuck. It will also come in handy in making a solar still.
Other survival items that will come in handy in the desert include fire starters, multi-tool, paracord, flashlight, compass, map, GPS, cell phone, signal mirror, and a whistle. You also need tools and a repair kit for your vehicle.
Desert Survival Tips
Do some thorough planning for your trip across the desert. Research the region and learn the location of water sources and the nearest outposts or communities. Know what possible dangers you may encounter so you can prepare for them beforehand. Keep your vehicle in tip-top shape.
Before you head out for your desert adventure, tell someone where you’re going. If you’ve seen 127 Hours or know the story of Aron Ralston, you should know that it’s important to inform someone, especially someone close to you, of your destination if you’re planning on a solo outdoor adventure. If you tell your family or friends where you’re going, they’ll notice if you’ve gone missing.
Stay out of the sun as much as you can. If you have a vehicle, stay inside. If you have to move, do so when it is cooler, particularly at night. This way, you prevent too much water loss from sweating, which may be more important than finding water to drink.
Don’t sip water. If you need to drink, have a good gulp so water reaches your vital organs and brain. You can still die of dehydration if you only take sips.
Don’t drink your urine unless necessary. The only time you can consume your own urine is when you run out of clean water and there are no other alternatives.
Bring food, particularly those that don’t require too much water to prepare. When you run out of supplies, focus more on finding water instead of food. You can survive longer without food but your days are numbered if you have nothing to drink.
If your desert trip turns for the worse, don’t panic and think of your ABCs. First, Accept that you’re in a dire situation. Next, Brew tea, which basically means start a fire. Then Consider your options. Decide on a plan. Finally, Execute the plan.
Desert Survival Skills
Finding Water
Know how to find water. You can locate a water source by keeping an eye out for animal trails, and green vegetation, as well as following the flight of birds. If you stumble upon dry creek beds, dig along the outside bends.
Learn how to make a solar still. You’ll need thin plastic, a container, and something to dig the ground with. A solar still will collect water by trapping heat so the moisture in the ground will vaporize. Be wary of this survival skill, however. It may be too daunting to do some digging under intense heat. You’ll also lose a lot of sweat if you do strenuous activities.
Starting A Fire
Building a fire is one of the most important desert survival skills. Some of you may think that starting a fire in the desert is a bit strange. Others may assume that it would be easy considering how hot the desert is.
Fire is vital to your survival for a number of reasons. It provides warmth and light at night, cooks your food, and keeps wild animals such as mountain lions and coyotes at bay. Most importantly, fire purifies water you may have found or gathered.
Don’t build fire during the day unless you need a signal fire. The heat will only make you sweat more thus lose water in your body more.
Building A Shelter
As mentioned, you should avoid too much exposure to the sun. One of the primary desert survival skills you should learn is how to build a shelter with what you have and anything you can find. You can make a shelter out of your sleeping bag. You should also avoid sitting directly on the hot ground. Make sure your shelter is easy to spot by rescuers.
Distress Signals
Speaking of rescue, you show know how to make it easier for other people to find and save you. There are many ways you can get the attention of searchers. Use a signal mirror to reflect light from the sun towards your potential saviors. Rescue teams, military personnel, first responders, and even pilots are trained to spot distress signals.
The fire you made can also be used to signal rescuers. You should know how to make a signal fire, which is noticeable for miles, especially in the dark. If there is a lot of dry wood, you can keep your signal fire burning until someone spots you. You can also make pyres if you don’t have much fuel. Build three pyres arranged in a triangular manner. The number three and the triangle are known as international distress signals. Light your pyres when you spot a plane.
Making audible distress signals is a useful for desert survival skill, as well. If you brought a gun, you can use it to send an SOS. Fire your gun three times with a waiting time of five seconds between each shot. It’s important to space your shots so people who can hear them will identify the shots as a distress signal. You can also use your whistle to find rescue. The rule of three also applies here.
The desert is perhaps one of the hardest places to be in when you have an emergency. It’s hot, dry, and provides little resources for your survival. That makes it even more important to know as many desert survival skills as you can.
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