[Ahmad Pervez]

Ahmad Pervez

January 20, 2013 at 2:23 pm #1588

Desert survival techniques that you will need if ever lost in the desert, how to get water, food and shelter.
Deserts, defined by their minimal precipitation, represent one of the harshest survival environments, with a lack of resources and a punishing climate. If faced with a desert survival situation, there is often not much you can do, but it is a test of will nonetheless, with some things you can think about and act upon to improve your odds of getting rescued.
You never know when you may get stranded in the desert! Well, actually you may not get stranded in the Sahara Desert, but you might get stranded while driving through a desert. After all, there are over fifty major deserts in the world. So, just to be on the safe side you might want to know some survival techniques that you can do in the desert to get water, food and shelter. You never know, maybe these tips will come in handy while camping or travelling.
The desert is a known for it’s extreme differences in temperatures. During the day it can be sweltering hot and at night it can drop to freezing temperatures. When you think of deserts you think of sand, and whipping winds. While not all deserts are like this, some are. And almost all deserts are known for their glaring sunshine, as a matter of fact you can actually be blinded by the sun or burnt so bad you can die of extreme sunburn. There is also the peril of little or no water.
If you get stranded in the desert, of course you have to stay in your car or plane if you crash landed there, as long as you can. Stay near the car or crash site and wait for help. It is always easier to locate a plane or a car by rescuers rather than a lonely human being.
Conserve your energy in the hottest times of the day with sleep.
Your available food depends entirely on the desert you’re in. A desert in Arizona may provide cactus fruit, some wildlife, and edible scorpions, as there is the potential to have a small amount of water in some small pockets, whereas a desert like the Sahara is likely to have pretty much no food at all.
Unless your water issues are comfortably sorted out, you are better off not eating. Eating can actually dehydrate you more, and you can last far longer without food than you can without water.

you’ve seen desert dwellers wear. Loose fitting, light colors, with a light weight head dress that covers your head, neck and shoulders. Use the head dress to protect the eyes, mouth and nose if there is a sand storm or from the glaring sun. Wear shoes;check them for scorpions before putting them on. Keep the sand out of your shoes, the sand can really chafe and rub your feet raw.

If you need shelter from the sun, rain or to sleep in, the type of shelter you can build will depend on the type of desert you are in. If you can build your shelter near the site of a crashed plane, as you will probably not want to stay in the plane because of fuel leaks or the intense heat inside. If you are near caves or cliffs with overhangs which provide shelter, utilize these. Beware of scorpions or snakes, they also like these dark cool spots and you may be intruding on them. You can use canvas, towels, blankets or even seat covers to use as a tarp to shelter you further from the sun and rain. If you are in a desert that is totally sand dunes, utilize an existing dune. Build a mound of sand and slide one end of your “tarp” midway and anchor it down with rocks or more sand. Pull the other end up to the dune and anchor it. Allow for at least a 16 inch space you can crawl into.
Finding water in the desert is extremely difficult and your top priority. Your best bet is to head for the largest pockets of vegetation, small as they may be, as they need some amount of water. In a desert like the Sahara, you’re better off not even looking, as your odds of finding anything are extremely slim and you will likely sweat valuable hydration along the way.
You likely have about three days alive without water, but don’t over ration – you’re better off drinking and getting the hydration in you rather than taking tiny, sparing sips. Don’t drink to excess; just don’t leave yourself thirsty if you have water.
Every drop counts, and dehydration is a killer. If there’s any way for the cold desert nights to produce condensation, take advantage. If you have the material for a solar still, and can take advantage of plant transpiration, do what you can.
If you do manage to find a decent water source but intend to leave it, drink a lot of it, even if you’re not thirsty anymore. It’s a bad idea to drink extra when you’re scarce, but if you find a substantial source, store the extra in your body. Don’t hesitate to get yourself and your clothes soaked to help your body thermoregulate, and you’ll feel the coolness go through your body and stay with you when you leave. And, of course, fill up any and all containers. There’s a good chance it’s not a good idea to leave the source, but if you feel you should, at least pay careful attention to how to get back to it if necessary, but as backtracking isn’t ideal.
Finding water in the desert is one of the biggest concerns. Water is your main priority. If you have more food than water, eat your food sparingly because food digestion will use up more of the water you have stored in your body. Fatty foods take up even more water in digestion. You will need to know how to ration your water if there is not any more easily accessible. If temperatures are 110 degrees you can live for 3 and half days, resting in the shade with 8 pints of water every 24 hours. If you rest during the day and travel at night about 20 miles you can last two and half days with 8 pints of water every
24 hours in 110 degrees. If temperatures are milder, you can drink less water; for example 2 pints a day in 80 degree temperatures and 4 pints a day in 90 degrees.
There are plants in the desert that you can extract water from. Cut off the top of a barrel cactus and get the water out by squeezing and mashing the innards. Or just suck on a piece of the innards. Water can be extracted from date palms by cutting a branch near the bottom and sucking out the liquid. Prickly pears have fruit on them that can be eaten that contain water. Also the inside of prickly pear plants have a liquid you can drink.
To find ground water, look for old water courses and follow it to the lowest point and dig down deep. You can also observe birds and animals who may lead you to a water source. Look for an abundance of plants and trees, water will probably be nearby. If you do find ground water but it looks questionable or dirty, you can purify it with water purification tablets if you have some, or boil it for 10 minutes.
Given the general test of heat, you may think that a fire would be the last thing you would need in the desert. Fire can not only provide daytime and night-time signals (discussed later), but it can still cool any animals you may find. Also, desert nights can be remarkably cold, never mind the general difficulty in adapting to a major temperature swing over a short period of time. Fire is the way to stay warm. If you are able to find some water, fire will be the water to disinfect it, providing you have a suitable container. Preparing your materials for fire can save your life.
Desert shelters mean protection from the sun during the day, keeping warm at night, and potentially blocking sandy winds. Ideally, try to rig a parachute or tarp over some posts, or make use of the vehicle as your anchor. The vehicle itself will not be adequate shelter, as it will make the hot hotter and the cold colder.
If you can find a cave or take advantage of rock formations for shade, part of the shelter has been built for you. As always with caves, if they’re good for you they’re good for other animals too, so check carefully for other visitors.
Clothing should be light, in weight and in color to reflect the sun. It should also cover all your skin. No shorts and a t-shirt here.
Covering your head is also extremely important, and usually you’ll be able to make some kind of bandanna or Arab-style headdress. Wetting the cloth on your head can have an amazing cooling effect. Since water is likely scarce, urine is another option, if you can handle it.
As far as desert survival gear, bring a large amount of water, and count on 20 litres a day. Bringing 60-80 litres is nice, but may or may not be realistic depending on the vehicle. If you can take more, bring more.
For signalling, flares are great, especially at night. During the day, some mirrors can be used for signalling, reflecting the sun’s rays to a person or vehicle in the distance to create a flash in their field of vision. Flash lights and a whistle aren’t a bad idea either.
Bring a wool blanket for use at night when temperatures drop, along with fire-starting tools for the same reason.
For a vehicle, a shovel and sand ladders are necessary if you’re stuck in sand.
And of course, packs like basic first aid kits and emergency survival kits for your essentials.
The greatest danger in the desert is dehydration from lack of available water. With temperatures in the high 50s Celsius (approx. 122 Fahrenheit), heatstroke is certainly a risk, and the heat can not only harm you physically, but severely affect your decision-making. As discussed above, clothing and equipment can help, as can a proper shelter – anything that shields the sun.
The sun can harm you with its light, too. Just as with snow blindness, desert or sand blindness can be caused by the reflection of the the sun’s rays off the relatively smooth surface ahead of you. If you are walking, create a pair of makeshift goggles and make sure you are only looking through narrow slits.
From a wildlife standpoint, scorpions, spiders, and snakes are a constant threat, meaning be vigilant about where you step, and be sure to check your footwear, as their being shady cool spots makes them an appealing choice for critters.
If you’re in an environment with cacti, avoid getting spiked by their spines if possible.
Unlike some other survival terrains, desert survival most likely means getting rescued. The odds of walking out are slim to none, especially in a desert like the Sahara. Going into the desert is one of those times it’s absolutely imperative that you let people know where you’re going and when you plan to return, so that a rescue effort will get under way. Unless you’re 100% sure how far away you are from safety, stay put and signal for rescue using the equipment you’ve brought.
If you indeed have a vehicle, burning a tire can create a great plume of black smoke. Smoke from a normal fire is unlikely to be seen. At night, the fire itself can signal, but if you can, try to light three in order to communicate your emergency.
Try to make a signal for use during the day out of the land, marking a large V-shape. Even though the colour of the V will be the same as the surrounding sand, the shape can still potentially be noticed.
As always, do your best to maintain a positive attitude. As long as you retain the will to survive, you will endure as long as possible. Don’t let the desert get the best of you!
It might also be really helpful to have your lap top computer with you in the desert, so you can access this article. Keep that in mind next time you go wandering in the desert!!!

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