Survival Tips
These are VERY IMPORTANT!! Before venturing in the desert, one must first know these tips on how to survive in the desert if he or she is lost (but I hope this doesn't happen).
In Hot Deserts:
1. Stay as hydrated as possible before going out. That means water, not alcohol or soft drinks. Make sure you have lots of water! Water may not be the most enjoyable drink out there, but every gram of carbohydrates and salts must be compensated for with more water.
2. Take along food that packs the most nutrition in the least size and weight. For some, that might be granola bars, while others will swear by pemmican or jerky. Trail mix is a very popular choice.
3. Wear wicking fabrics with a UPF of at least 30 as a base layer, and take along one warming layer (wool or fleece) and one windbreak layer. Light colors are recommended both for reflecting (rather than absorbing) light and its associated heat, and in order to be seen at night. While the chances are slim that anyone will stop to help you, at minimum you want to be seen so that you aren't run over. Long sleeves and pant legs, and a broad-brimmed hat, can reduce or eliminate the need for sunblock.
4. Many deserts are prone to dust storms: take goggles (not mask-type, but rather those that cover each eye individually) and a dust mask, gas mask, bandanna, or anything to keep the dust out of your lungs.
5. The first rule of desert hiking is to walk slowly. You're going to have to force yourself to do this, because your natural reaction may be panic, which will increase your pace. Calm down -- this is your best bet to survive.
6. Take a break for at least 10 minutes per hour. Look for large desert rocks to provide some shade.
7. Whenever you have a choice on which route to take, choose the easier path. It's better to go a longer distance over easier terrain. Remember, water loss is your main enemy, so while you may save an hour or two by trekking up and over that small mountain, you'll be overexerting and putting yourself in danger.
8. Travel at night when possible; the cooler air enables you to travel farther and faster with minimum danger of heat exhaustion. A headlight and taillight on your head or clothing will minimize danger from traffic.
9. Try to stay as warm as possible at night. Bring along a good goose-down sleeping bag; it can become quite cold in the desert at night.
10. Be wary of nocturnal animals that can harm you like coyotes, scorpions, snakes, and peccaries.
In Cold Deserts:
1. Prepare for the cold. Even during the summer months, the temperatures can drop below minus-50 degrees, without the wind chill.
2. Stay covered in extreme cold, down to the tip of your nose. Wind can flash freeze your skin instantly.
3. Stay hydrated. The air in Antarctica is so dry that your body loses water just by breathing. You need at least six to eight liters a day to stay hydrated.
4. Eat fatty foods. Your body needs calories to stay warm. Some people go through eight chocolate bars a day.
5. Always carry a survival bag containing a tent, water, food and stove. If your helicopter crashes, it could take days for a rescue party to reach you.
6. Do whatever it takes to stay warm, such as jumping jacks, sit-ups and swinging your arms around to get the blood flowing to your hands.
7. Watch out for everyone else. You will notice a white patch of frozen skin on someone’s face before they do. And beware the “umbles!” That is Antartica talk for when a person starts mumbling and/or stumbling, which are signs that someone is getting hypothermia. In such cases, you need to get the person warm and get fluids into them.
8. Danger on the sea ice: The winter in Antarctica is so cold that it freezes the surface of the ocean. The resulting sea ice is an important place for researchers to work, but it is also extremely dangerous because of the danger of falling through a crack — or being on a piece of ice that breaks off and floats away.
9. Watch the weather. Antarctica can have sustained winds of over 100 miles per hour, strong enough to blow away a small vehicle. Plus, snow can blow so hard that it is impossible to see your hand in front of your face. The weather also changes fast, and a clear, sunny day can become dangerous in minutes. If a storm is blowing in, build or get to a shelter.
10. Prepare your camp for heavy winds. That means rigging tents with giant stakes and orienting them so that they won’t blow away.
11. Dig an emergency snow cave. Never go anywhere without your shovel. If your camp is destroyed, it could save your life.
12. Train for whiteout conditions with your team with exercises like putting a bucket over your head and practicing navigation by trying to move from tent to tent.
13. Don't let your tent blow away when you set it up. You will probably freeze to death.