Desert Survival Safety Tips

( submitted by John E. Akers June 1993)
JOHNAKERS@delphi.com Arizona State Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, Inc. Safety/Education Committee Chairman: John E. Akers 2610 West Aurora Drive, Tucson, Arizona 85746 (602) 883-9068 DESERT SURVIVAL SAFETY TIPS

When planning a trip into the desert, always inform someone as to where you are going, your route and when you expect to return. Stick to your plan. Carry at least one gallon of water per person per day of your trip. (Plastic gallon jugs are handy and portable) Be sure your vehicle is in good condition with a sound battery, good hoses, spare tire, spare fan belts, necessary tools, and reserve gasoline and oil. Other spare parts and extra radiator water are also valuable. Keep an eye on the sky. Flash floods may occur in a wash any time "Thunderheads" are in sight, even though it may not rain a drop where you are. If caught in a dust storm while driving, get off the road. Turn off driving lights, turn on emergency flashers. Back into the wind to reduce windshield pitting by sand particles. Before driving through washes and sandy areas test the footing. One minute on foot may save hours of hard work or prevent a punctured oil pan. If your vehicle breaks down, stay near it. Your emergency supplies are here. Your car has many other items useful in emergency. Raise hood and trunk lid to denote "Help needed." A vehicle can be seen for miles, but a person on foot is very difficult to find. When not moving, use available shade or erect shade from tarps, blankets, seat covers - anything to reduce the direct rays of the sun. Do not sit or lie directly on the ground. It may be 30 degrees or more hotter than the air. Leave a disabled vehicle only if you are positive of the route to help. Keep clothing on. It helps to keep the body temperature down and reduces the dehydration rate. Cover your head. If a hat is not handy, improvise a head covering. If you must walk, rest for at least 10 minutes of each hour. If you are not normally physically active, rest up to 30 minutes out of each hour. Find shade, sit down and prop up feet. Adjust shoes and socks. Do not remove shoes - you may not be able to get them back on swollen feet. If you have water, drink it. Do not ration it. If water is limited, keep your mouth shut. Do not talk, do not eat, do not smoke, do not drink alcohol, do not take salt. If stalled or lost set signal fires. Set smokey fires in the daytime, bright ones for the night. Three fires in a triangle denote "help needed."A roadway is a sign of civilization. If you find a road, stay on it. RECOMMENDED SURVIVAL ITEMS PERSONAL Essential: Metal signal mirror Whistle Pocket knife Flint and steel Small candle Cigarette paper book Small pencil Small magnetic compass Water-proofed matches Dental floss (100 yards) Desirable: Band-aids 1 qt. canteen with water Bright-colored balloons Iodine tablets Canteen cup Water-proofed match case Map of the area Tape Bandanna Useful: 1 sq. yd. nylon or chiffon brightly colored Quarters - 2 or more Hard candy Aluminum foil - heavy duty Small fish hooks Light picture cord (snare wire) Salt Poncho or sheets of plastic Heavy plastic bags (for use as canteens) Razor blade Needle with large eye Cobbler's linen thread (1 yard) Tweezers Comb Snake bite kit Bar of soap (small) Woodman's saw Knife sharpening stone Survival guide Mole skin 1/4" nylon cord (50-100 ft.)VEHICLE Essential: Roll of electrical tape Tool kit First aid kit Flashlight Shovel Jack (preferably one that may be rigged) Desirable: Water - 1 gallon per person per day & 5 gallons for vehicle Gas - 50 miles of gas Gloves Extra matches Flares - at least 6 each Strips of carpet/burlap bags Extra fan belt Jumper cables - 12' long Tire chains Bar of soap (large) Tire pump (aid in pumping up tires after getting unstuck from wash) Tube-type tires preferable if they can be unmounted and patched Tow cable - 15' or more Useful: Car repair manual - Trouble shooter's guide Block and tackle 50 ft. of 5/8" rope Axe or good hatchet Food-dehydrated (requires water) Cooking pots Roll 18" aluminum foil for cooking Tarpaulin for shade Blankets Walking shoes Hat and long-sleeved shirts If hiking in the desert, equip each person, especially children, with a police-type whistle. It makes a distinctive noise with little effort. Three blasts denote "HELP NEEDED." To avoid poisonous creatures, put your hands or feet only where your eyes can see. NOTE: Tucson Rough Riders, Inc., is a rough-terrain vehicle club with the following goals: to enjoy and protect the natural environment, to provide social and recreational activities for its members, and to promote family togetherness. The Club assists the state and national resource management agencies and local community charitable organizations. The Arizona State Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, Inc., is an association of rough-terrain vehicle clubs with the following goals: to promote a more responsible attitude towards the vehicle use of public lands, to prevent legislation which would impose undue restriction on recreational 4-wheeling, to institute programs of Conservation, Education, and Safety, and to provide social and recreational activities for its members. The Association assists the state and national resource management agencies.

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