Desert Safety

The desert presents a number of challenges to hikers, mountain bikers, and campers. The extremely dry and hot climate means people are at a greater risk of experiencing dehydration and heat stroke. Rocky, uneven terrain can lead to disorientation and dust storms can make travel difficult. Snakes, scorpions, wild animals, and thorn-bearing plants can inflict injury. These are some of the risks involved when hiking, biking, or camping in the desert, and in this section, we will examine these risks and inform you on how you can prepare yourself when venturing out into the desert. Much of this information was paraphrased from the US Army Survival Manual (Department of The Army Field Manual FM 21-76.)

Basic Desert Travel Tips

Here are some basic tips for traveling through the desert. Use this as a checklist as you prepare for your trip.

Avoid traveling alone. Two heads are better than one. Traveling with other people means you and your other travelers can watch out for possible dangers. If someone is injured during travel, other travelers can tend to the injury or get medical help.
Avoid traveling at night. Rocky and uneven terrain can make night travel difficult. Many poisonous desert creatures are nocturnal and tend to be more active at night.
Always carry a first-aid kit. Keep a fully stocked first-aid kit in your backpack. You never know when something could go wrong.
Carry a bite/sting kit. Bite/sting kits are separate from first-aid kits. They contain antivenom and medicine for caring for snakebites and bee stings. If you are allergic to any kind of venom, this is an absolute necessity.
Carry plenty of water. Water is an absolute necessity for desert travel. If the temperature is below 100º F, drink about 1 pint of water an hour. If the temperature is above 100º F, drink about a quart of water an hour. Always take more water than you think you will need.
Do your research. Read up on where you will be hiking. Learn the terrain and get maps of trails on which you will be traveling. Check for possible threats and dangers. Check the local weather forecast so you know what to expect.
Be aware of your surroundings. Expect the unexpected while you travel and keep your eyes on where you are stepping. Snakes can blend in quite well with the light color of the desert ground. Most people who are injured by snakebites step on snakes by accident.

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Desert Dangers

There are a number of dangers related to desert travel that should be taken into account when navigating the desert on bike or on foot. These dangers include:

Dehydration and heat-stroke
Poisonous snakes and insects
Animal threats
Dehydration and Heat Stroke

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Dehydration

Dehydration is the biggest risk when traveling in the desert. There is a relationship between the amount of water the body has available to it, the temperature of the air, and the amount of physical exertion needed to travel. The human body requires a certain amount of water for a certain level of physical activity at a certain temperature. The human body cools itself by expelling moisture in the form of sweat. If the body expels most of the moisture that is available to it, dehydration can occur. Exposure to direct sunlight, heat and light reflection off bare ground, and hot, dry winds all contribute to dehydration. Dizziness, muscle cramps, and fatigue are common symptoms of dehydration.

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Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is a graver threat to the desert traveler and requires immediate medical attention. Heat stroke may possibly lead to death if not treated immediately. Heat stroke is caused by extreme moisture loss and salt loss. Heat stroke sets in when the human body can no longer cool itself and has used all available moisture. The symptoms of heat stroke are hot, dry skin, headache, dizziness, fast pulse, high internal body temperature, nausea and vomiting, and mental confusion leading to unconsciousness.

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Preventing Dehydration and Heat Stroke

Dehydration can be prevented by taking the following actions:

Drink plenty of water! The average human requires about 5 gallons of water for a full day of physical exertion in air that is 110º F. If the temperature is below 100º F, drink about 1 pint of water an hour. If the temperature is above 100º F, drink about a quart of water an hour. Always take more water than you think you will need.
Conserve body moisture! Help your body’s natural cooling system by wearing light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and pants. While this may be uncomfortable in hot weather, you must keep moisture near the body and try to prevent rapid evaporation that can lead to dehydration.
Travel out of direct sunlight as much as possible! Direct sunlight causes faster moisture evaporation and raises the body’s internal temperature. Heat and light reflection off bare ground also cause the body’s internal temperature to rise.

Heat stroke can be deadly. Action must be taken immediately if the sufferer exhibits the symptoms listed above. Take the following actions:

Move into shade, out of direct sunlight.
If possible, elevate sufferer about 18 inches above the ground.
Loosen and soak clothing with water.
Fan sufferer to speed up cooling process and massage their arms and legs.
Allow sufferer to slowly replenish their body with water.
If sufferer loses and regains consciousness, allow them small drinks of water every three minutes.

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Poisonous Snakes and Insects

The desert is full of potentially hazardous wildlife threats. The greatest of these threats are poisonous snakes, scorpions, and stinging insects.

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Snakes

Snakes are found in all arid locations. Snakes inhabit caves, rock outcroppings, garbage piles, ruins, and other places that provide shade.

The rattlesnake is the most common poisonous snake in desert locations. Rattlesnakes are best known for their use of the defensive warning sound that gives them their name.

The most common rattlesnake in the Sonoran desert is the Western Diamondback. The Western Diamondback is light brown or tan in color with darker brown diamonds along the length of its back. The tail (including the rattle) is cream white with black rings or bands. This rattlesnake’s venom is hemotoxic, which means the bite victim will experience considerable pain and tissue damage near the area of the bite

Another rattlesnake that occurs in the Sonoran desert is the Mojave Rattlesnake. This snake is more olive green in color compared to the Western Diamondback. This snake’s venom is considered highly toxic. Its venom is both hemotoxic and neurotoxic; the bite victim experiences severe pain near the bite wound due to the hemotoxins, and experiences respiratory difficulty due to the neurotoxins in the venom.

In order to avoid snakes, you can take the following precautions:

Be aware of your surroundings. Keep your eyes open for snakes along your path.
Wear heavy pants and boots if you know that you will be traveling through an area where snakes are common.
Stay on existing trails and watch your step.
Carry a walking stick or snake stick.
Do not place your hands or feet in shady or dark areas. Use a stick to probe dark areas first.
Do not tease or poke at a resting snake. If you see a snake along the trail, give it wide berth and do not disturb it.

What to do if a rattlesnake bites you:

Do not panic! A higher pulse is a snakebite victim’s worst enemy. A higher pulse means venom can spread through the body quicker and cause more pain and damage. Remain relaxed and lie down if possible.
Carry a bite/sting first aid kit. These first aid kits usually contain antivenom medicine and directions on how to use the antivenom.
Move out of direct sunlight.
Lie down with head slightly lower than the rest of the body.
Remove toxins as soon as possible by using a mechanical suction device or by squeezing the area near the bite wound.
Cleanse the bite wound and hands extremely well.
If the bite is on an extremity, snugly wrap the extremity halfway between the bite and the rest of the body with material 2 inches in width.
Remove watches, rings, bracelets, and other restricting items.
Drink small amounts of water.
Take Tylenol or aspirin for pain.
DO NOT suck the venom from the wound with your mouth. The blood vessels under the tongue will absorb venom immediately and direct venom to the heart.
DO NOT place ice on the bite wound.

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Scorpions

Scorpions often inhabit dark, damp areas like wood piles, garbage piles, and loose ground debris such as leaves and bark. Scorpions are nocturnal and are most active at night, when they hunt for food.

Scorpions have a poison gland and stinger on the end of their tail. Stings from some scorpion species cause death, but stings from scorpions common in the Sonoran desert usually cause severe pain, swelling and sickness. Death is rare.

The most common poisonous scorpions in the Sonoran desert are the Giant Desert Hairless Scorpion and the Centruroides Scorpion.

The Giant Hairless Desert Scorpion (which, interestingly, has the word arizonensis in its Latin name) is the most commonly seen scorpion in the Arizona desert. It can grow up to 5.5 inches long and is a yellowish color. It has two large pincers for catching insects, lizards, and small snakes. The stinger on the end of its segmented tail delivers poison that causes severe pain and swelling.

The Centruroides Scorpion is very similar to the Giant Hairless in body shape, but is darker brown and sometimes has parallel greenish stripes near the beginning of the tail. The defining characteristic of this scorpion is the tooth located below the poison bulb on the tail. This scorpion’s poison is extremely poisonous to humans and can be fatal on rare occasions.

Take the following precautions to avoid scorpion stings:

Be aware of where you are walking. Scorpions reside under ground debris, trash, and rocks. Do not disturb ground debris in areas where scorpions are common, if possible.
Do not hike in sandals or barefoot.
Stay on defined trails.
Watch where you place your hands. Probe dark areas with a stick before placing hands into the areas.
Wear gloves to protect hands if possible.

What to do if a scorpion stings you:

Do not panic! As with snakebites, increased pulse means increased blood flow and faster spread of poison throughout the body.
Lie down and resist physical activity.
Clean the sting site thoroughly.
Try to remove toxin by using suction or squeezing the sting site.
Ease pain by applying chewed tobacco to the sting site. Tobacco from cigarettes, snuff, or freshly ground tobacco leaves, if available, can be used to ease the pain of a scorpion sting.
Bandage the sting site and treat as an open wound. Be sure sting site is kept clean at all times and avoid wrapping site tightly with bandage or tourniquet, as the area may swell.

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Stinging Insects

Stinging insects are the third greatest natural threat to desert travel. Stinging insects include bees and wasps.

Africanized Bee Swarms

Africanized or “Killer” bees represent the greatest stinging insect threat in the Sonoran desert. Africanized bees are expanding their range throughout the Sonoran desert, southern California, New Mexico, and southern Texas. This means travelers are more likely to encounter swarms of Africanized bees. There are several instances each year of people and pets being attacked by Africanized bee swarms.

Because Africanized bees attack in swarms, the impact of their venom is greater. Deaths have occurred when people and pets highly allergic to bee venom have been attacked.

Take the following precautions to avoid killer bees:

Be aware of your surroundings. If you see a few bees in an area, a swarm may be nearby.
If you spot a swarm or hive in a tree, give it a wide berth. Africanized bees are highly territorial will attack without provocation.
Avoid attracting bees. Avoid wearing cologne or hair spray. Do not expose sweet-smelling candies, drinks, or food when bees are present.

What to do if a bee or wasp stings you:

Be aware of a possible allergic reaction. Consult your doctor about possible allergies to bee and wasp venom and purchase an insect sting kit to carry with you when traveling.
Do not try to grasp the exposed stinger with your fingers or tweezers. You may squeeze the venom sac attached to the stinger and cause more venom to be injected into the body.
Immediately scrape the stinger from the skin. Use a knife or fingernail to scrape off the exposed part of the stinger.
Wash the sting site thoroughly and treat as an open wound to avoid secondary infection.
Place a cold compress or ice pack on the sting site to ease pain and swelling.

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Animal Threats

Injuries by wild animals, while not as common as injuries inflicted by snakes, scorpions, and stinging insects, are another danger of desert travel. Animals that have not eaten for a while may be more willing to attack something bigger than themselves for food. Diseased or rabid animals will be more likely to attack a traveler without being provoked.

Mountain lions and coyotes are the two largest desert carnivores. These two animals are generally skittish around humans, but disease and hunger may drive them to attack. Attacks by such animals are not extremely common, but preparation is the first step in preventing attack.

Take these precautions when in areas frequented by mountain lions, coyotes, and other possibly threatening animals:

Be aware of your surroundings. Keep your eyes open for signs of animal activity, such as tracks, animal bones, and scat.
Carry a weapon. Carry a walking stick, a can of pepper spray, a knife, or even a gun with you when you are traveling in the desert. Yelling generally does not keep a sick or hungry wild animal from attacking.
Do not feed wildlife. Feeding animals may provoke them to attack.
Do not disturb sleeping animals.
If you see an animal, give it a wide berth.

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Desert Safety

Table of Contents:

Basic Desert Travel Tips

Desert Dangers

Dehydration

Heat Stroke

Preventing Dehydration and Heat Stroke

Poisonous Snakes and Insects

Snakes

Scorpions

Stinging Insects

Animal Threats