Around 15-20 per cent of earth’s surface is desert (a sea of dry sand). There are many definitions for a desert but they all have a common element that is “scarcity of water”. “Living or surviving in a desert”, even this thought seems to be the end of life. One more in important thing is that sun is most important factor for survival but in a desert sun is an angel for death. Human survival in desert is never easy. This is all because of harsh environment and many life killing environment like no water, less rainfall, less or no vegetation and etc. Human always wants comfortable life but nothing is impossible in this universe. Can also humans survive in desert?? Yes they can by taking some necessary precaution and intelligent steps. So here, I am presenting 10 best ways to survive in a desert.
1. Be hydrated and avoid drinking water
Usually you can drink water if you have it. But desert is best defined by “LACK OF WATER”. So water should be used intelligently for immediate and future mission. A better trick is to ration it for yourself. Whenever you got thirsty you should take only small sips so you would have water for future. Drinking water after small interval keeps your body remains cool and decrease sweating. Otherwise you may face the problem of dehydration due to extreme hotness. Dehydration does not cause only low level of salt and water in your body but also reduce your alertness and reaction time by 12 per cent. Before travelling and exposure to sun make sure your body has good level of water So for good health carry some water with you always.
2. Eat less food
What to eat?? How to get food?? And lack of food. Most of the people think the lack of food is the prior to survive. But practically this notion is completely wrong. In desert it is suggested to eat less because if you will eat more consequently you need more water for digestion, so all you need more water that is impossible in the region having less rainfall and scarcity of water. From medically it is also verified that your body can survive for much longer without food rather than without water!! So just try to follow this and do not listen to your stomach every time!!!!!!
3. Collecting foods and water
To survive you need two important things that are food and water. How can you get these?? This is obvious question coming to your mind. It is not so difficult as it seems. If you have food then it is really good, you can eat whenever you would feel hungry. But once it would over or you do not have any things, you can for some edible plants like date palm, desert raisins etc. Before eating you should try to test all parts of plants. If it is non poisonous you can eat and collect some more for future use.
Coming to water, you need search for it. Just look for place where you can find plants and birds or simply vegetation. In such kind of places just dig the surface until water seeps into it. You can use that water for surviving and you can cover the dig with clothes or plastics to prevent water from being contaminated. You can store water and carry with you while traveling.
4. Fire and its production
It is looking so funny to have fire in the list of survival list. But really you should understand the importance of fire in saving your life. Fire can be used during night times when the desert temperature starts dropping to keep you warm. Besides keeping warm, fire can also be used for signal for help and cooking. It also saves our lives from large dangerous animals because most of them frighten of fire. So you should know how to fire in such severe condition without matchbox!! You can use the concept of “friction” and small dry woods and leaves, the most things you have to do little practice because this is not easy.
5. Nightshift work
During daytime if you would come out of your shelter surely sun would fry you!! In the evening when sun gets down, it is the time for your relief. So it is recommended for you to go for your work in the night time. You can travel smoothly at night but you should take some rest after each 30 minute to save your energy. But in many deserts the temperature drops at night until it would freeze you, so you should try to keep yourself warm as much as possible using your warm shelter and clothes. Before traveling keep this point in your mind.
6. Be alert and protect yourself
Besides from heat and lack of water, desert is known as Death Valley. It has large and dangerous creatures which bite and sting you and some of them might kill you. Also there may be sometimes thunderstorms and floods. So all you need to keep your eyes on the sky and your surroundings. While looking for a shelter and staying in any place just try to look for its geographical features and try to predict occurrence of thunderstorms and floods. Besides you should be alterative of large animals at night times. Your ear should be very attentive so that can easily know their presence. You can use fire to frighten the animals.
7. Proper dressing
You should be proper dressed for surviving for long time. In desert you should wear light colored clothes because it reduces evaporation, dehydration in the body. Your cloth should be loose enough so that you will get good oxygen and air. In the meanwhile you should be full your covered, especially your head and neck, from sun and dry air by using hats. This is because once your head and neck got expose to the sun for long period then you there would be more dehydration, you would feel thirstier and ultimately your body would stop working. If you do not have hat use other materials like your clothes or large leaves to wrap your head to protect yourself.
8. Find the safe shelter
This is the most important factor for survival. Human cannot think their life without shelter for a second. Desert temperature is usually 120 degrees, so it is recommended to take an immediate shelter to cover and protect you. You should not be worry about how to build a shelter. It is very simple one. You can use natural materials like stick, brush and even a tarp or bed sheet if you have it, capable of providing shade, leaving a small opening at the top and openings at the bottom for air to flow. Try to stay in your lovely shelter until sun set down!!
9. An emergency survival kit
By preparing an emergency survival kit does not meant it always turn on life and dead situations but it certainly can in the future. So well prepare yourself for such situations. It is strongly recommended to keep a well planned survival kit that can be easily fit in a soap dish. Along with all first aid things like knife, antiseptic, bandage, etc you should have comfortable things like two-one liter canteens, a medical blanket, compass and the things that can be used for showing signals for help. The survival kit should be small and light in weight so that it can be taken by anywhere and anytime without any troubles.
10. Less panic
Now these days’ people are impatient and overact for simple and silly situations. Panic is the killing factor in an emergency situation. Panic blinds human and gives always fatal results. So first of all you should mentally accept the situation and keep yourselves cool. Then only you can intelligently think and plan how to survive in the desert. Then execute your plans steps by steps. So do not try to hit your panic button otherwise surely you would go into pieces.
Leave a Reply