Top 10 Steps to Prepare for Your Desert Trip - Desert Safety Tips and Desert Survival Gear : The Hidden World Beneath Your Feet

Safety preparation is often not the first thing on many adventurers' minds. This is a BIG MISTAKE!

Desert is a harsh environment, and many outdoor enthusiasts, including rockhounders, have LOST THEIR LIVES because they ignored proper planning. Don't make yourself a part of the sad statistic; prepare well and arm yourself with the knowledge and the right gear. Luckily, most of the preparation requires minimal investment of time and money. And I am about to make that preparation even easier for you.

Here are the 10 most important desert safety tips for your trip.

This is the most important thing to remember when heading on a desert adventure. Dehydration is a huge risk, and you MUST bring more water rather than less.

Various emergencies can prevent you from returning as planned, so extra water and hydration drinks (powder packets or bottled drinks) are mandatory.

I like Hoist Hydration Drinks the most if you have a few extra dollars to spend and have additional space.

Alternatively, save some money and space with Liquid IV mix. Add it to your water and enjoy.

Also, cherry and tropical hydration drinks are great with rum (don't do it, please)!

Bring some extra food with you too...just in case.

Sun exposure and heat can be dangerous if you don't account for them.

Also, you can experience extremely high as well as extremely low temperatures in the desert on a single day (the desert can have chilly nights). So bring extra layers even if you don't plan to spend the night there.

Cover yourself from sun exposure with a hat, a neck gator, and sunglasses. It is best to have clothing with UV protection. Closed-toe shoes are also a good choice for protecting your feet.

KastKing Neck Gaiter is UPF 50 UV rated and can be a bandana, face mask (protection from sun and dust), balaclava, and more!

It also comes in a ton of cool patterns!

Sunscreen is mandatory in the desert environment, even during winter months. You won't believe how fast your skin can become the tomato color!

Stick with SPF 50 sunscreen as it offers the highest level of protection.

Apply it often and make sure not to miss any exposed or potentially exposed parts of the body (hands, ears, heck, etc).

Many moons ago, I put plenty of sunscreen on my face and neck but ignored my head with VERY SHORT hair. The top of my head burned so much and was so flaky I could have starred in a Head&Shoulders commercial as a "before" actor.

Get Banana Boat 50 SPF Spray Sunscreen if you are lazy like me and want to just spray yourself.

Be careful not to get any spray sunscreen in your eyes (I learned that the hard way)!

Alternatively, pick Thinksport SPF 50+ Mineral Sunscreen Cream; it works great, too!

A satellite phone is a spendy piece of equipment. However, it can literally be a life-saver if you find yourself in an emergency away from civilization and without regular cellphone reception.

Consider investing in one if you plan on taking extended trips into the desert. Some kits come with a prepaid card, like BlueCosmo Iridium Extreme Satellite Phone. It is easy to set up, and it may save you (or someone else's) one day!

Consider investing in a personal locator beacon (PLB), a vital emergency device designed for use when other options are unavailable. This compact transmitter emits a customized distress signal, alerting the nearest rescue services to your location.

The desert is far from empty. There are plenty of plants and animals to go around, some of which might be dangerous. Cactuses, snakes, scorpions, venomous lizards, bugs, and other wildlife might seriously ruin your day.

Ever stepped on the wasp's nest?

0/10, DO NOT RECOMMEND!

Find out what you might encounter in a particular place you go to and pay attention to your surroundings.

And don't step on the wasps.

Generally, desert creatures will not attack you unless there is no other choice, so creating a noise when necessary helps make your presence known to drive them away.

Driving in a desert is a very enjoyable experience, but you need to prepare your vehicle for the trip.

Make sure to have a full tank and extra fuel. You might not have access to any services for miles and miles, so extra fuel is a must to avoid running out of gas and getting stuck.

Talking about getting stuck, if you get stuck in the sand, you have a problem. Ideally, you should go on a 4-wheel drive vehicle to help navigate potentially challenging terrain, but even a 4-wheel drive can get stuck.

Having a shovel to dig your car out is a good idea. A tow strap is a useful piece of equipment, too. If you go with others in another vehicle, they can pull you out. If not, you might just get lucky and have other adventurers with a car help you out.

The car jack, flat boards, and air compressors are additional pieces of gear you would benefit from in case of a vehicle emergency in the desert.

While a car jack can generally be found in the trunk of your vehicle, you must buy other items separately. To make your life easier and your trip safer, get a full car emergency kit and always keep it in your vehicle.

Everlit Survival Car Emergency Kit is an easy way to get all the necessary items and keep them in one place.

Deserts are not always just flat. There are hills and mountains, abandoned mines, mudslides during winter months, weak cliffs that might cause a landslide, and so on. While the chances of becoming a victim of those threats are low, it is still possible. Awareness and common sense are the keys to your safety.

If the area you are heading to is prone to sandstorms, be aware of weather conditions and take necessary precautions to avoid getting caught in one. Monitor the sky for signs of approaching storms and have a plan in place if one occurs.

Also, get yourself a handy manual on the desert environment. Read it before your next adventure, and keep it with you just in case.

Being out in the wilderness, you need to be able to treat potential medical emergencies, from cuts and blisters to more serious injuries.

It is better to have more medical supplies rather than less, especially if you are traveling in a vehicle. Some bigger medical kits, like this premium one, have items for outdoor survival, like a compass and an emergency blanket.

Also, make sure to have your prescription medication with you, and always bring extra just in case.

Another often overlooked piece of medical gear you must have is a tourniquet.

It is often the only way to stop critical blood loss and save a life since items like belts and shoe laces can't create enough pressure to stop arterial bleeding!

Remember that a tourniquet can only be applied to a person for a short time, and you must transfer an injured individual to a hospital immediately!