Brochure put out by the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Home Page
Alphabetical Index
Julian Today
Weather
Maps
Lodging
with vacancies
Stores
Campgrounds
Camps
Restaurants
Things to do
Calendar of Events
Your Comments
Ten Tips for a Safe Trip
1. Carry water and Drink it. Saving your water for the hike back has led to death in Anza-Borrego. Drink water before you leave home, while you hike, and on return route.
2. Make sure your vehicle is Desert-Ready. Do you have water? shade tarp? shovel? tire pump? extra food for emergencies? Could you survive for 48-72 hours in your car, with extreme temperatures?
3. Prepare Yourself. In addition to water, do you have protective clothing? sunscreen? hat? a good map? extra food and water? if you broke a leg and had to stay out all night, would you be OK with your supplies?
4. Have a Plan. Leave information with a friend, telling of your destination; the route you intend to follow; your expected return time; a description of your vehicle and license plate #; and the time to notify authorities if you have not checked in. Do not rely on a ranger to discover you, have friends ready to report.
5. Know the enemy. There are three main emergencies you might have due to heat. Read the descriptions below and be alert for symptoms.
6. If a member of your group has a Heat-related emergency. Get them into some shade immediately and follow the directions below. Do not leave this person to rest while you continue the hike. Stay with them until they can return to camp or home.
7. Don't split up the hiking group. Many times a group will split up and someone ends up alone. Many rescues occur in situations like this. Avoid disaster by staying together. [Just think of all those B movies where a group in a haunted house splits up and gets picked off one by one]
8. Leave snakes alone. This may seem obvious, but a venomous snake may strike if you threaten it. Trying to catch it, kill it, or otherwise annoy it is a sure way to get a snakebite. If bitten, get medical attention immediately. Stay calm, not all bites contain venom, even from a rattler.
9. When emergencies happen. Stop, Stay calm. Seek shelter if hiking, otherwise ALWAYS stay with vehicle. Signal. Put the hood up on car, use a mirror, or a white cloth to signal an air plane. It is much easier to find a vehicle in the middle of a desert than to find a person. Stay with the car!
10. Carry water and drink it. We can't stresst this enough! On a warm day in Anza-Borrego, by the time you feel thirsty it may be too late. Drink lots, drink often.
Recognizing a Heat Emergency Heat stroke, Heat exhaustion, and heat cramps are the three main emergencies caused by the desert sun.
Heat Cramps are painful cramps in the legs and abdominal muscles, along with faintness and excessive sweating. They are caused by loss of too much salt inthe body. Treat this by moving victim to a cool place. Give sips of cool (not icy) water, sports drinks or other salty drinks (like V-8) Massage cramped area.
Heat Exhaustion happens when the blood vessels dilate while transporting heat from the inside of the body to the skin. Symptoms to watch for are: dizziness; nausea; headache; an irregular pulse; change in skin color; and disorientation. Move victim to a cool place and give them cool water or sports drinks. Fan this victim to cool.
Heat Stroke is a profound disturbance of the heat-regulating mechanism. Convulsions, unconsciousness and even death may occur. The symptoms include: a sudden onset; dilated pupils; dry, hot and flushed skin; fast pulse; abnormal breathing; high fever. Heat stroke is a true EMERGENCY. Call 911 if possible, and move person to a cool, shady place. Douse the body with water to lower temperature. Protect the victim from injury during convulsions.