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Desert Survival Guide


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If you are lost in desert heat, your main aim will be to keep cool. The biggest desert killers are heatstroke and dehydration, which can come on very quickly.

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Keep your head cool at all costs, even if it means peeing on your hat. You shouldn't go into a desert without a hat, but if you are caught short, make one from another piece of clothing. Wear light-coloured clothing in the desert.

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The Moab Desert contains two major rivers – the Colorado and the Green. Finding one of them is the key to getting out. Following a river will eventually lead to civilization. Plants, insects and birds need water, so signs of life like these indicate a water source nearby.

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Canyons provide shade and might contain water sources that could lead to bigger rivers. Find a canyon that runs downhill – it is a good sign that water is nearby since water runs downhill.

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Only drink running water. Stagnant water is likely to be contaminated with dead animals and other debris, which could give you diarrhea that could finish you off altogether.


Bear Grylls: Born Survivor: Video Clips
Check out our golden rules for surviving extreme conditions
Are you a daredevil? Take our quiz and find out
Survival tips when faced with the sheer raw power of nature
Follow the players of this highly-dangerous game
Stories of outstanding human endurance
Could you hack the Legion?