Heat and Dehydration Kill the Unprepared

--- Planning A Desert Trip ---

If you are planning a trip into the desert during the months when high temperatures can occur, this is usually June through September, with July and August being the hottest. Consider if this trip at this time of year, is really necessary. The most elaborately planned desert trip could result in your being placed in a survival situation. Desert temperatures can rise in excess of 120 degrees.

Before You Go

Always tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return.

Desert Survival

If you don’t have it with you, don’t expect to find it in the desert. Carry everything you will need to survive until help arrives, should you become lost or stranded.

· Don’t leave your vehicle if it becomes disabled.

Try to attract attention: greenwood fire, etc.
Always carry water for you (5 gallons per day, per person). and your car.
Carry a small survival kit with a metal match and steel wool for starting a fire, map, signal mirror, road flares and flare gun, fold up rain coat, medication, sun lotion, fold up hat, gloves.
Clothing; long trousers, long sleeved shirt, and shoes.
Pack that little shovel and burlap bag.

Stuck In The Sand?

Stop the vehicle immediately, get out and assess the situation – go forward or reverse? Make roadway of brush or burlap bag, slightly deflate tires, slowly rock car back and forward, inching your way out. Someone standing on the rear of the car will help, or jack car up, place rocks under rear tires for better leverage.

SPECIAL NOTE TO HIKERS AND BIKERS

In as much as you are unable to carry a sufficient amount of water to sustain you in a survival situation, you should have positive back up with water, or, limit the range of your activity. Remember, in the early stages of dehydration, mental impairment can occur, often causing disorientation, making survival virtually impossible. It has been shown that a 154 lb. Person carrying a 20 lb. Pack and walking in the sun at 100 degrees, would require 1.3 quarts of water per hour to replace that which is lost due to sweating.

ROAD CLOSURES

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has temporarily restricted motorized vehicle use to specific routes of travel in certain areas of desert tortoise habitat in eastern Riverside and Imperial Counties. Vehicle travel in all BLM wilderness and on military lands is also prohibited. A pamphlet is available at The Blythe Area Chamber of Commerce denoting these areas or you can contact the local BLM Office.