Living In The Desert

Desert Survival

1. Preparation
When hiking, camping, or making any trip to the desert, always inform someone of your planned route, destination, and expected time of return. Stick to the plan.
Carry at least one gallon of water per person per day of the trip. Be sure your vehicle is in good condition and equipped with a sound battery, good hoses, spare tire and fan belts, necessary tools, and sufficient gas and oil. Carry extra water in your vehicle as well.

2. On the Road
Before driving through sandy areas, test the footing. If the vehicle breaks down, stay with the vehicle. A person in the desert is very difficult to see whereas the vehicle is more noticeable. Keep clothing on. It helps reduce body temperature and dehydration. Put on a hot, or improvise head covering. Do not sit or lie directly on the ground; it may be at least 30 degrees hotter than the air. Drink water if it is available. Do not ration it! Breathe through your nose. Don't talk, eat, smoke, drink alcohol, or eat salted products if water is scarce.

3. Leaving a Vehicle
Leave a disabled vehicle to get help only if help is in sight or you are positive of the route to take. Leave a note for rescuers telling the time you left and the direction you've taken. While walking, rest at least ten minutes per hour. An inactive person should rest up to 30 minutes per hour. Do not remove your shoes while you are resting; you may not be able to get them back on swollen feet. Take water with you to keep hydrated.

Dust Storms

Dust storms result from thunderstorm activity that generally comes from the south. They become hazardous as they move toward metropolitan areas.

1. Reduce speed and turn on driving lights

2. Exit a freeway at the first available ramp

3. If dust becomes so intense that visibility drops to less than 300 feet, pull of the roadway, even as far as the right of way fence. Do not stop on the traveled portion of the roadway.

4. After stopping, back the car into the wind to reduce the number of sand particles that will hit the windshield

5. Wait until visibility is at least 300 feet before reentering the roadway

6. Heavy rain may follow a dust storm so watch for flash floods

Severe Thunderstorms

• Hail - Large hail can cause serious injury, so avoid the outdoors while a storm is in progress. Protect gardens, bring pets inside, and shelter vehicles to prevent damage.

• Lightning - Lightning kills more people in the US than any other natural hazard. It may strike some miles from that parent cloud. While Tucson has amazing lightning storms, the area becomes extremely dangerous. The best place to be in a lightning storm is in a building. A vehicle is the next best option. Do not use the telephone except for emergencies. If caught outdoors, avoid being the highest object in the area. Stay away from hilltops, lone trees, and telephone poles. Get off or away from open water. Abandon metal vehicles such as tractors, motorcycles, bicycles, and golf carts. Drop golf clubs and remove golf shoes. Seek a ravine or valley and drop the to ground in a crouched position if you cannot find suitable shelter. Do not lie on the ground. If you are caught in a flat, open spot and feel your hair about to stand end or your skin begin to tingle, lightning may be about to strike you. Assume the crouched position immediately.

• Flash Floods - Flash floods often occur without warning after heavy rainfall upstream. Drainage, canals, streambeds, canyons, and washes are potential flood areas, and roads and trails that parallel these waterways may be swept away by floodwaters. Act quickly when you realize a flash flood is coming. Leave the area that may be affected by a flood. Go to high ground immediately. Do no drive through the already flooded areas. Shallow, swiftly flowing water can sweep a car from the road and disguise a washed out roadbed. Do not attempt to cross a flowing stream on foot where the water is above your knees.

Living With Desert Creatures

• Mosquitos
  Watch for these pesky creatures near moist areas, especially after rains.

• Tarantulas
  Evening predators, these large and fuzzy spiders are relatively harmless. They can make quite a scare though!

• Gila Monsters
  Don't agitate these lizards. They are the only known venomous lizards in the world.

• Snakes
  There are 12 species of snakes in Arizona and 11 are rattlesnakes. All are venomous. Don't agitate a snake and you'll be safe.

• Wasps
  While they feed on the nasty critters in your garden, they can give quite a sting.

• Scorpions
  Scorpions are relatively inactive during the daylight hours. The majority of envenomations reported to the Poison Center occur at night during the warm summer months.