Mojave Desert can be a killer
Summer in the Mojave Desert in the southwestern United States is Mother Nature at her most incredible best.
From the awe-inspiring magnificence of Zion National Park in Utah and the red and yellow brilliance of Gold Butte Recreation Area outside Mesquite and Bunkerville, to the amazing Joshua Tree National Forest and arid Death Valley National Park in California, the Mojave is 25,000 square miles of sand, sagebrush and splendor.
Unfortunately for the uninitiated or ill-prepared, however, summer in the Mojave is also sweat, sun and scalding heat that can be dangerous to the point of deadly. Summer temperatures can literally suck the life from a person in a matter of hours.
Preparation is crucial to being safe and comfortable in the summer and there are a number of precautions a person can take to lessen the danger from sun and heat.
No matter where you travel this summer, water is vital. Stock your car with bottles of water, carry it with you when you go for a walk and drink it before you become thirsty; stay hydrated. The American Heart Association says dehydration can lead to problems ranging from swollen feet and a headache to life-threatening illnesses like heat stroke.
The amount of water a person needs is dependent on a number of factors including what they’re wearing, what they’re doing and how healthy they are. Suffice it to say that barring an emergency, such as getting stuck on a lonely desert road at noon in July, if a person drinks eight to 10 glasses of water a day and more if they begin to feel thirsty, they should be well-prepared as the Mojave sun heats up the day.
If possible, stay indoors between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun is most intense. If you must be outdoors, cover up. Wear long sleeves and a hat, and use sunscreen.
Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Not only does sunscreen help protect the skin from the immediate impact of the sun, like sunburn, it also helps diminish the possibility of skin cancer in the long term.
The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends wearing sunscreens that are water resistant, applied every two hours or at least several times during the day, especially when swimming.
Remember, too, that your pets are as susceptible to the summer sun and heat as you are, probably more so since most of them wear fur coats. Make sure they have plenty of clean water at all times and never, ever leave them in the car — not even for a few moments. The temperature inside the car, especially in direct sun, can rise to dangerous levels in a manner of minutes.
Speaking of cars, it’s always a good idea to keep your vehicle in good condition in the Mojave. Make sure you keep your radiator full and know that summer heat is especially hard on batteries. Getting yours checked may just save your life.