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DE S E R T
SURVIVAL SKILLS HANDBOOK

TIPS AND TRICKS TO SURVIVE IN THE WILD.

 4 Bear
Grylls
SURVIVAL SKILLS HANDBOOK

DESERT
4 Bear
Grylls

This survival handbook has been specially put

together to help young adventurers just like
you to stay safe in the wild. Adventuring in the
desert can be exciting and very fun, but like
all environments it presents its own dangers.
It is important to be aware of the risks and
hazards, and know how to handle yourself in
every situation. The desert can be an unforgiving
place, so it is vital you are properly
prepared before embarking on any ie
adventure. But then, just go for it! f
 A Bear
Grylls

CONTENTS
~ What is a desert? 4 Water 26

Navigation 28
How is a desert
formed? Shelter 30

Rainfall explained Ox
Staying well in
Mirages the desert

Equipment Finding food in

the desert 34
Clothing
Colour in hot Desert survival
climates stories 37
Desert plants Dust and
Desert animals sandstorms 42

Desert people Desert at night 44

Desert cities
WHAT IS A DESERT?
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Almost one third of the world’s surface is desert. Most people

think of deserts as hot places with little shade, but temperatures
vary widely, with extreme cold and high winds at night. Living
conditions can be extremely difficult. There is occasional rainfall
in the desert but it is only ever a tiny amount, with some places
not receiving any at all.

Dry areas
Some deserts have years without
rainfall, then a period of heavy rain
and flooding.

Polar deserts
Large parts of the polar regions are considered
deserts as there is little rainfall.

f24 «Polar desert

fm Hot desert
HOW IS ADESERT FORMED?
Deserts are formed by the natural weathering of rocks. Rocks
are heated in the daytime and cooled rapidly again at night. This
process weakens the rocks and over time causes them to break
up into smaller pieces, making sand.
Effects of rain
Rainfall in deserts is usually very low, but
occasionally there are sudden, heavy downpours
that can cause flooding. These flash floods falling
on hot rocks can make them shatter. The wind then
picks up the small pieces of rock, sand, and dust
and bashes them against other rocks. Over time,
rocks are worn away and reduced to sand.

Desert pavements
A desert pavement is a patch of desert ground

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made up of rocks and stones. This is created

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BEAR
when the wind blows away the fine dust and
sand covering the rocks.

Most people think of hot and sandy

environments when they think of
deserts, but this isn’t always the
case. Antarctica is technically a
desert, despite its thick layer
of ice, because it has such
low rainfall.

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RAINFALL EXPLAINED
A desert is any land area that receives less than 250 mm of
rainfall per year. One of the driest places on Earth is the Atacama
Desert. The lack of rainfall makes it difficult for most plants and
animals to survive.

Measuring rainfall
Rainfall is measured using a rain gauge — usually bya
meteorologist. The instrument is left outside for a set
amount of time, it might be a day, a week, or a year. Then
the meteorologist can say how much rain has fallen
per year by reading off the scale. This wouldn’t work in
a rainy climate as the gauge would overflow. Rainfall
might have to be measured each hour in some places.
Rain gauge

Living in the desert

This graph shows that the temperature
is hottest when the desert has the least
amount of rainfall.

35 35
| Rainfall (mm)

m4 Temperature (C)

Rainfall
(mm)
aanzesoduiay
(D,)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Month
 The water cycle
The water cycle is also known as the hydrological cycle. Water on Earth is
constantly moving from one stage of the cycle to the next.

Varm air meets cold

ir, forming droplets Water collects and
the cycle repeats

The cycle
Water moves around the Earth in stages. Heat
from the sun evaporates water from the Earth’s
surface (from lakes, rivers, and oceans). This
BEAR SAYS
Surprisingly, more people die
water vapour rises upward creating warm, wet from drowning in flash floods in
air. The wet air will travel through the skies deserts each year than they do
until it cools down and condenses into water from thirst.
droplets. When these droplets get too heavy for
the air, they begin to fall back to the Earth as
rain, sleet, or snow.

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 Why doesn’t it rain much in the desert?
There are three main reasons why desert rainfall is low.
| 1. Some deserts are ringed by mountains. These mountains force the winds to cool
and the rain to fall before the clouds reach the desert. The Atacama Desert is in
a rainshadow between the Andes and the Chilean Coastal Range, meaning it is
surrounded by mountain ranges.
2. Some deserts are near the Equator. Air near the Equator is very dry. The air rises
and falls again, creating something called high pressure. Air that is moving
downward warms up and any water in it becomes a gas so it can’t fall as rain.
3. Some desert winds come from the Pacific Ocean. This wind is surprisingly cold
but dry as it isn’t warm enough to gather moisture from the surface of the ocean.

Mountains force the warm air to

Cold, dry ocean
zany, cool and condense into rainfall
winds are too cold
to pick up water

BEAR SAYS
The Atacama Desert is ina
Atacama Desert
rainshadow, near the Equator,
and has winds from the Pacific
Ocean. This combination makes
it the hottest place
on Earth.
MIRAGES
Exhausted desert travellers sometimes think they can see a
lake in the distance. When they arrive — the lake isn’t there! This
common vision in the desert is called a mirage.

What is a mirage?
A mirage is upside-down image
of the bright blue sky. It is caused
by the refraction (bending) of light
rays travelling through the air at
different temperatures. The air
near the ground is hotter than air
higher up in the sky, causing the
refraction on the desert surface.
It is not a hallucination — it often
looks like there is a pool of water
on the ground. The image may be
shimmering because there is some
movement and mixing of hot and
cool air.

BEAR SAYS
Mirages are natural
phenomenons that can occur
both during the day and at night.
 EQUIPMENT
Strong sun and very little available water are the first things to
consider when packing for a desert trip. Bringing materials to
make shade and carrying water are essential. It is important to
consider that equipment needs protecting from sand and that it
can get quite chilly during the night. Remember: finding shelter and
anchoring materials can be challenging in a sandy environment.

Face mask

Goggles
Space
blanket
First aid

t :cd| Water bottle

Portable GPS device
 % Bear
Grylls

Extra socks
Desert hat

Sleeping bag

UV sunglasses
Desert boots

A change of clothes Sunscreen

Pen knife

Loose trousers
Warm clothes
Parachute cord
a

Loose-fitting cotton clothing is often a good choice for desert travel.

Layers of clothing will stop sweat evaporating too quickly and help
prevent overheating and dehydration. Long-sleeved clothing will
keep your skin covered and will protect you from sunburn and spiny
plants. Desert footwear needs to keep your feet comfortable and
protected from snakes and other biting animals.

Skin exposure
It is important to dress appropriately Desert hat
for your environment. Deserts are often we wind
strap
very hot, but can also be extremely cold.
The sun exposure in desert regions is
often stronger than you are used to — you
can reduce the risk of over exposure by
keeping your skin covered.
Long-sleeve
cotton shirt

“BEAR SAYS
Don’t worry about looking cool.
Cargo
trousers
Pull your socks up and tuck your
trousers in - don’t leave any
space for any dangerous insects
to get inside!

Tucked socks Desert boots

 A Bear
Grylls

COLOUR IN HOT CLIMATES

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It is often thought that white is a good colour for hot climates, yet
people who live in desert conditions usually wear dark colours.
There are perks to wearing darker clothing — wearing a dark shirt
will make you easier to spot in a desert landscape if you get lost.

Which colour would you choose?

White
White reflects heat. White clothing will
reflect heat coming from your skin back
towards your body. UV (Ultraviolet) light from
the sun penetrates white clothing more than
dark colours. UV light is harmless in small
amounts, but too much can harm your skin.

Black
The Tuareg people have centuries of
experience living in hot deserts. Their
experiences have taught them that black is
an excellent colour to wear in some desert
conditions. Black clothing will absorb the
heat from your body instead of reflecting
it. If there is a breeze, loose black clothing
might be a good option — the warm air
around your body will be pushed out and
replaced by cool air.
Tuareg
tribesman in
traditional
clothing
DESERT PLANTS
It is often thought that plants cannot grow in a desert
environment — this isn’t true. There are actually many different
plants that can survive with small amounts of water and
extremely sandy soil. These desert plants are called xerophytes.
Desert plants have adapted to survive in their environments —
small changes like the size of plant leaves can help stop valuable
water evaporating.

Dune grass
Growing crops in the desert can be very
difficult, as sand is constantly moving
and covering everything with tall sand
dunes. To successfully farm in the desert,
the dunes need to be fixed in place. By
growing dune grasses with long roots,
the dunes are held in place.

Saguaro cactus
This cactus is like a tree — it can grow
over 20 m tall and can live for over
150 years. Native to Arizona, it survives
hot weather and droughts by storing
water — it visibly expands after rain. The
fruits are edible but you would need a
very long pole to get them. These plants
are protected by law in Arizona so they
must not be damaged.
 A Grylls
Bear

Elephant tree
The elephant tree has adapted
specifically to the hot climates of deserts
in the United States. Its leaves are small
— only an inch long and very narrow. It
has become so good at surviving the hot
weather that it has become extremely
vulnerable to the cold.

Living stone
These plants get their name from their
stone-like appearance. They can survive
blazing hot deserts by partially burying
themselves underground. In times of
drought the plant can bury itself further
until it is completely covered, allowing it to
survive even the most extreme conditions.

Desert marigold
This is found in parts of the U.S. and
Mexico. They have very hairy leaves that are
essential for their survival. These leaves
are important because they increase the
amount of light reflected, which then lowers
the leaf temperature and blocks harmful
UV light. These flowers are extremely
poisonous and have killed many sheep.
Mesquite tree
Mesquite trees produce beans ina pod.
The pod and beans are edible and are a rich
source of protein and fibres for local wildlife.
Mesquite wood is highly sought after and
was used in the past for ship building. It is
now used to build high-quality furniture and
it is expensive to buy the timber.

Ghost flower
Unlike most plants, the ghost flower does
not get its energy from sunlight but feeds
off fungi. This is a very unusual and rare type
of plant species called myco-heterotroph.
It is sometimes completely white and can
also grow in very dark environments. It often
flowers a few days after rainfall and only has
one flower per stem.

Saltbush
The leaf surface of this plant is covered in
tiny hairs that deposit salt out of the plant.
This shields the plant from light, helping
to keep it cool. It is found in Arizona and
California, in the U.S.

Fairy duster
Commonly known as fairy duster and mock
mesquite, this plant is another member of
the pea family. Its seeds look like dried pea
pods and are eaten by desert animals. It can
flower all year round.
Old man cactus
This cactus is covered thickly with soft,
white hairs that give the cactus its name.
Like the desert marigold, the hairs help
reflect light and lower temperature in order
to survive the hot desert climate.

Devil’s claw
Devil’s claw is named after its unusually
shaped fruit and is closely related to the
sesame family. It is found in South Africa
and is used in herbal medicine as pain relief.
These plants have long, hooked seed pods
that attach to moving animals. When the
animal moves, the seeds are dispersed.

Prickly pear cactus

The prickly pear cactus has a spongy texture
and can store water in its pods to use when
there is a drought. They have thorns that
stop some (but not all) animals eating them
for the moisture.

Desert plants often have

features that help to collect _
s _and store water or prevent
water loss.
DESERT
Harsh desert conditions have forced the animals that live there
to adapt to the environment. Deserts have extreme temperatures
and little to no water. Wildlife that have made their homes in
deserts have evolved and developed natural survival tools and
instincts to keep them cool and hydrated.

Camels
Most of the camels in the world are dromedary camels with one hump. Only
six percent of camels have two humps. Many believe that camels store water
in their humps. This is acommon myth — the hump actually stores the camels’
fat. By storing fat in the hump instead of around their bodies, camels are able
to stay cool in the heat. Camels don’t even need to drink water if there is none
available, instead getting their water from green plants.

Hump for
fat storage

Thick eyelashes to
protect eyes from sand

BEAR SAYS
A thirsty camel can drink
200 litres of water in around
three minutes!
Cream coloured courser bird
These birds hunt insects by running on
the ground. They lay eggs in a simple nest
on the ground. Their cream colour is a
natural camouflage against predators. They
are classed as waders, which is unusual
considering their habitat is desert.

Thorny devil
This lizard has special skin that can
gather all the water it needs directly
from rain, standing water, and soil
moisture. Its skin has a special ability
to absorb water it comes into contact
with, and it has scales that channel
water to the corners of its mouth.

African pyxie frog

It used to be thought that these
frogs died off in the dry season, but
scientists have discovered that they
actually bury themselves and create
a cocoon that hardens around their
body. They can hibernate in this
cocoon for up to seven years, and
when it rains the moisture makes the
cocoon soften and the frog wakes up.
Kangaroo rat
Also known as the desert rat, they can
survive without ever drinking water. They can
jump up to 2.75 m to escape predators.

Oryx
These large antelopes feed early in the
morning and late afternoon when desert
temperatures are low. Oryx have an amazing
ability — they can regulate their body
temperature to stop sweating. By doing this
they can preserve a lot of valuable water.

Fennec fox
These small foxes have very special ears —
they can radiate heat and help keep their
bodies cool. The ears contain lots of blood
vessels that allow them to keep their blood
cool, and are excellent at listening for nearby
insects. Additionally, these foxes have padded
feet that protect them from the hot sand.
 A Bear
Grylls

Sidewinder rattlesnake
These snakes are named after the track they
leave in the sand when they move. They are
also known as the horned rattlesnake as
they have little bumps that look like horns
above their eyes. They are venomous, but
produce a weaker venom than lots of other
rattlesnakes. However, they still give a
serious bite which should be treated urgently.

Desert scorpion
Desert scorpions can live in sand dunes and
have extra fat to help them survive. They are
nocturnal and can be found under rocks, so
take care when moving rocks, in case there’s
a desert scorpion waiting beneath one.

Cape ground squirrel

This animal is found in southern Africa and
has a bushy tail that it uses as portable
shade from the desert sun. They hardly ever
drink water — they can get all the water they
need from the plants they eat.

Peccary
The peccary has a really tough mouth and
can eat cacti without feeling the spines. This
is really useful as cacti provide water as well
as food.
DESERT PEOPLE
With deserts covering around a third of the Earth’s surface, it is
probably not surprisingly that 300 million people live there.

Tubu tribeswomen
These ladies trek for days with their camels
across the Sahara desert in order to buy
salt and dates. They know the location of
wells on the way for water — if they make a
mistake and get lost they could die.

Tubu
tribeswoman

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Sahara
desert
 VY naire
Grylls

Hamar people
The Hamar people are a community
from southwestern Ethiopia. They are a
farming community, and cattle are very
important in their culture. Traditionally,
boys are only considered men once they
have run back and forth over the backs of
their cattle.

Bedouin people
These are the best-known desert
inhabitants. They often work with goats
and camels — they consider camels
“a gift from God” as they are so useful
in every aspect of their lives. While
many Bedouin have abandoned their
traditional nomadic lifestyles, some
still live in the desert and continue their
ancient traditions of telling poetry and
camel racing during celebrations.

Wodaabe beauty contests

It is hard to meet a suitable partner if you spend
most of your life searching the desert for cattle
pastures with your family. Every year, the Wodaabe
people hold a week-long beauty contest, known
as the Guérewol, where the men try to impress the
ladies. Young men dress in elaborate traditional
dress and face paint, and try to impress the
women with songs and dances. The gathering
place changes most years.
DESERT CITIES
With almost 300 million people living in deserts around the world,
it is unsurprising that many large cities have developed. But how
can these cities survive with so little rainfall and the constant
struggle for food?

Las Vegas
Dubai

Dubai
Dubai is an oasis ina desert - ona
very large scale! The oasis naturally
drew crowds for the fresh water
and local wildlife. It has had many
functions over the years. Originally an
important port for trade, oil was later
discovered here in 1966 and brought
wealth to the area. It was used as a
refuelling base during the Gulf War. It
is now widely known for its tourism,
skyscrapers, and sporting events.
Its hotel rooms are some of the most
expensive in the world.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas is Spanish for “the meadows”.
It was originally a place where desert
travellers could get fresh spring water,
and wild grasses grew there because of
the source of water. It is a desert basin,
California has suffered from 22
surrounded on all sides by mountain
years of drought over the past
ranges. It can experience flash floods,
100 years, with one drought
and the drainage systems have been
lasting 7 years!
carefully built to cope with lots of water.
This is one of the fastest growing cities in
the U.S. and uses more water per person
than any other city in the world. All of this
in a desert! It is known for its casinos,
entertainment, and nightlife.

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WATER
Deserts are areas with very little rain, so living conditions can be
difficult for plants and animals. Water is more important than
food in a survival situation. In the desert, where water is scarce,
staying hydrated is a major safety concern. Humans can live for
weeks without food, but without water you can die in a few days —
even in fairly cool conditions.

Why is water important?

The human body is about 60 percent
water. It keeps us the correct
temperature, moves substances
around our bodies, and helps to get
rid of waste. We cannot live for more
than about 3-5 days without water.

Breathe out
250 ml water
as vapour
per day
Usually drink
2 L per day

250 ml comes
from food

Urinate
1500 ml
per day
 Oasis
An oasis is an isolated place ina
desert where there is water, and
plants grow. Animals and humans
often make habitats at an oasis
if it is large enough to support
the group. The water is from an
underground river reaching the
surface and forming a spring,
pond, or lake. An oasis is a very
important place for people and
animals in a desert, and ifa
particular tribe has control of an
oasis then they can control the
trade in that area.

Solar still

BEAR SAYS
Collection
container

Solar still
A solar still is a process used to gather
If you see bees, flies,
moisture from plants to make drinking water. A
mosquitoes, or frogs you are
hole is dug and some plants are placed in the
likely to be less than 3 miles
hole — they can be planted if it is going to be
from water.
used for a while. Moisture evaporates from the
plants, rises and condenses on the underside
of a plastic sheet, then drips into a collection
container. It can be drunk without disturbing
the system by using a drinking tube.

Water from cuttings

Place as many plant cuttings as possible
in a bag — just make sure they don’t touch
the sides. Prop up the centre of the bag to
form a tent shape. Put the bag on a slope
so that the water can run to a corner to
make collection easy.
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Deserts are difficult to navigate as there are very few permanent

landmarks and the sand dunes are constantly changing and
moving, making them unreliable navigation points. Distance can
be difficult to judge, and sandstorms can make visibility difficult
or even impossible. Getting lost is a very dangerous risk as water
and food can be a long way away, and travelling at any speed can
be difficult due to the heat and the lack of proper road surfaces.

Navigating using shadows

Lin
BEAR SAYS
During the day you can always use the sun to
determine direction. The sun will always rise in the
east and settle in the west. This means your shadow
points west in the morning, north in the afternoon,
and east in the evenings. You can use these rules to
help you navigate in the wild when you do not have Always go with an experienced

your compass. guide, take a map, a GPS

system, and more food and
water than you need.

GPS
This device can receive information from special
satellites in space and accurately calculate its
geographical location. It may have a poor signal in
urban areas but is ideal when travelling. Make sure
to always check your GPS is working where you
travel and that you have enough batteries for the
duration of your trip, plus some spares.
Navigating using stars
Stars have been used for navigation for centuries. By knowing your constellations,
you can navigate on starry nights. In the Northern Hemisphere the constellation
Ursa Minor (the plough) can usually be easily found. The constellation appears to
rotate through the sky at night, but this is because of the rotation of Earth. The
plough has two “pointer stars” that always point to the North Star, a star that is
always to the north.

Pointer Stars

North Star

Southern Crux
In the Southern Hemisphere the stars appear to rotate in a clockwise direction,
and the constellation Crux is used for navigation. It is four bright stars in a kite
shape and the furthest star indicates the direction of the South pole — but
beware — there is also a group of stars known as the “false cross”.

“BEAR
It has been reported that blind
nomads navigate in the desert
using their sense of smell!

Furthest star
SHELTER
If you are lost in the desert, the best way to survive is to build a
shelter and wait for help to arrive. You will lose less water from your
body in the shade and keep warmer at night. Be careful not to disturb
scorpions and snakes if you are digging — always use a shovel ora
stick and spend time planning your shelter before you start so you
don’t waste effort on something unsuitable or in the wrong location.

Below-ground shelter
In some situations a shelter underground may be your best option.
It can protect you from heat as well as cold and attacks or extreme
weather. However, this needs to be balanced by the fact that the
shelter will take more effort to build than one above ground. If it is very
hot it might need to be done at night. The double cover is very useful to
keep the temperature down if you have enough material.

Open desert shelter

This might be useful to take
advantage of any breeze,
again the double layer will
help keep temperatures
down. Make sure it is secure
for windy conditions.
 STAYING WELL IN
THE DESERT
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Basic first aid knowledge is an essential part of survival. There

are lots of places you can learn some basic skills — in a couple of
hours you can learn and practise techniques that could save a life.
When going on an adventure you should make sure you have a first
aid kit, and that you plan for the environment you are expecting. A
desert first aid kit should always contain equipment to deal with
sunburn, dehydration, and insect bites.

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as
~ Heat exhaustion
' This is when a person becomes very bot and
starts to lose wateror salt. If they don’t get
treatment they are at risk of heatstroke. Some _
of the symptoms of heat exhaustion are:
Treatment for heat
e Tiredness and weakness
e Feeling dizzy and faint exhaustion
e Lower blood pressure When someone has heat

_ @ Headache exhaustion they need to lie down

e Muscle cramps in the shade. Remove as much
e Sickness clothing as possible, cool their
e Heavy sweating skin with water (you could wrap
e Extreme thirst them in a wet sheet), fan their
_ e@ A fast pulse wet skin, and give them plenty
e Urinating less often, dark coloured urine of water, diluted squash, ora
ed
sports drink. If they don’t start to
get better within 30 minutes, call
for medical help.

Jeatstroke
his is very serious but not as common as heat exhaustion. It occurs
vhen a person ’s temperature becomes very high and their body
annot cool down without help. It can be fatal, so a person with
eatstroke needs urgent medical attention.
Dehydration
Dehydration is when someone loses
more fluid through sweating, vomiting,
diarrhoea, or urinating than they have
taken in from eating and drinking. It is
important for everyone to drink plenty
but especially if they are exercising
more than normal, are in a hot place,
have a fever, have diarrhoea or
vomiting, or are elderly or very young.

Treatment for dehydration

You should treat dehydration by
drinking plenty of water, taking a
suitable oral rehydration solution
(you can buy this in sachets from a
chemist), resting, and massaging

BEAR SAYS
cramped muscles. If the person
doesn’t get better fast — get them to
a doctor.

The signs of dehydration

it include headache, dry mae

Rehydration
solution
 Sunburn
If a person shows any signs of sunburn, get
them to move to the shade, or preferably
indoors. Take a cool bath or shower, apply
aftersun lotion, and ask an adult to give
them a suitable painkiller if they need it. Sunburn is usually preventable
After being out in the sun, you are at risk by making sure you stay out
of dehydration so it is important to drink of the sun, cover up, and wear
plenty of water and keep an eye out for sunscreen. Planning is key.
signs of heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

Scorpion

Scorpion sting
Scorpion stings can vary a lot. Most will cause
Suncream can help
slight pain and swelling, but about 25 out of
prevent sunburn
around 1500 species can cause serious harm to
a healthy adult. It is always worth keeping an eye |
out for an allergic reaction to any scorpion sting.

Treating scorpion stings

If someone is stung by a scorpion, always
call for medical assistance, describing the
scorpion if at all possible.
Take care when lifting rocks and e Keep the victim calm.
shake out clothing and boots to e Wash and dry stung area.
check for scorpions before you e Use ice to keep swelling down.
get dressed. e Keep stung area below heart level to slow
down the spread of venom.
e@ Ask an adult for a suitable painkiller.
e If the person stops breathing follow first
aid procedures, performing CPR and
rescue breaths if necessary.
FINDING FOOD IN
ee
When travelling in the desert it is important to consider how much
food to take and how you would survive if you got lost. Fresh food
will go bad quickly in hot conditions and you may not want heavy tins
if you have to carry everything yourself. While you can sometimes
find edible plants and animals, it is worth learning how to identify
safe foods to eat before you travel so that you can find food in an
emergency situation.

Tuareg survival
A Tuareg nomadic person from the Sahara
desert claims that you can survive for
nine days on just three dates. We don’t
recommend you try this!
Day 1 — eat a date skin
Day 2 — eat a date skin
Day 3 - eat a date skin
Day 4 — eat the flesh of one date
Day 5- eat the flesh of one date
Day 6 — eat the flesh of one date
Day 7 — suck on one date stone
Day 8 — suck on one date stone
Day9 — suck on one date stone
Day 10 — you will die unless you
geta drink today!

Be careful
While humans can usually survive for about three
weeks without food, it is vital to eat properly if at
all possible to have the energy to move around —
especially important if you are travelling in harsh
conditions. It is important to take care not to eat
anything poisonous if you run out of food. Only eat Date tree
what you can identify and know to be safe.
Top tips for finding food

‘BEAR SAYS
1. If water is not available, do not
eat, as the food will increase your
need for water. Don’t waste energy
looking for food unless you already
have water. All cactus fruit are safe to eat -
2. Avoid plants with milky sap, red however, getting to them can be
beans, anything that tastes bitter or dangerous and painful!
soapy, spines, fine hairs or thorns,
anything with dill, carrot, parsnip or
parsley-like leaves, anything that
smells of almonds, anything with
three leaves.
3. Boil plants if possible.
4. Use the “universal edibility test”
(page 36).
5. Trapping is easier than hunting.

Cactus fruit
Universal edibility test
1. Don’t eat for eight hours. During this time, place
a piece of the plant on the inside of your wrist for

BEAR SAYS
15 minutes to see if you have a reaction.
2. Only test one part of the plant at a time. Some
plants have parts that are edible and other parts
that are poisonous. Boiling water will purify it so
3. Smell the food. Check for strong or acidic smells. that it is safe to drink.
4. Only drink purified water.
5. Touch a pinch of the food to your outer lip and
wait for three minutes to see if there is any
burning or itching.
6. If there is no reaction, place the same piece on
your tongue and hold it there for 15 minutes.
7. \f there is no reaction, chew it and hold it in your
mouth for 15 minutes — do not swallow!
8. If no reaction occurs, swallow it.
9. Wait eight hours. If there is no reaction, eat a
slightly bigger portion of the same part prepared
in the same way.
10. Wait another eight hours. If there is still no
reaction this part of the plant prepared in this way
is safe to eat.

re eiarerera rash eibneniaiinietie

i,

Never eat anything you do not

|
know about - some plants can Centipede
kill! Only use the universal Be careful
edibility test as a last resort if Lots of things we wouldn’t usually consider
you have no alternative. eating are actually a good source of nutrition.
Scorpions are edible apart from their venomous
tails. Centipedes are edible, but be careful —
millipedes are very similar but are poisonous.
 ae ; 5 Dear -
ee : é Gryll

DESERT SURVIVAL STORIES

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eee eee

The desert can be a very uncomfortable place to be unless you

have the correct equipment, supplies, and knowledge. People
are few and far between, so often help isn’t nearby. Travelling is
tricky because of the heat, and finding water can be extremely
difficult, so people often don’t survive for very long without
proper planning.

Marathon de Sables
In 1994 a man called Mauro Prosperi was running the
famous Marathon des Sables race, and he encountered
a sandstorm just after the start. He got confused and
when the storm stopped he ended up running in the wrong
direction. When he realised he was lost, he urinated into a
bottle and made the liquid last three days. He walked early
in the morning and in the evening, and took shelter in the
middle of the day. Eventually he found a shrine and drank
the blood from some bats that he caught. He walked for
a further five days and eventually came to an oasis where
some nomads found him and took him to safety.

Prosperi entered the race

again four years later but
still didn’t finish because he
stubbed his toe! But we love —
his courageous spirit.
 James Riley
James Riley was a nineteenth-century sea
captain. His ship ran aground off the Moroccan
coast of the Sahara desert and there was only
salted pork to eat and no water for him and his
crew. They were found by local people who took
them into slavery. They were marched through
the desert and forced to drink camel urine to
survive. Riley told their captors that there was a
rich person in one of the towns who would pay
to release them. He wrote a note to the French,
English, and Spanish consuls and begged them to
find someone to buy him and his men. Luckily, the
English consul got the note and agreed a price for
their release.

Walking to Arizona
A young man needed to get from Utah to
Arizona. He decided to walk there with his dog —
about 90 miles through unforgiving desert. His
dog ran off, he ran out of food, and left behind
his heavy bag, but luckily followed a river. After
about two weeks he was reported missing.
The local sheriff sent a helicopter to fly along
the length of the river. After three weeks in the
desert he was found. His rescuers thought that
if he had been out for another 24 hours he would
have likely died.
The tragedy at Kufra
In 1942, 12 members of the South African air

“BEAR SAYS”
force were sent in three planes to an oasis
at Kufra in the Libyan desert. There were
some problems with the weather forecast
and some misheard radio communications.
As a result of this tragedy,
After one of the aircraft had some engine
procedures were changed so that —
problems, they all landed in the desert.
suitable equipment is carried, and |
Following several unsuccessful short flights
people are better trained and
attempting to find help they were stuck in
experienced before
a sandstorm and ran out of water. These
men were not trained in desert survival and
had no appropriate equipment. They drank
the liquid from their compasses (which was
poisonous) and sprayed themselves with
the fire extinguishers to cool down (the
chemicals gave them painful skin injuries).
All but one man died.
Five days in a ravine
In 2011, an elderly man got lost after leaving
a restaurant in Arizona. He tried to turn his
car around but slid into a ravine. He couldn't
get a mobile phone signal, and fell over when
he tried to get out of the car, so he stayed
where he was for five days until he was found
by some people out hiking.

He had been drinking windscreen washer

fluid and was lucky not to die as it is
poisonous. It was extremely cold at night
in the desert in winter, but luckily not as
hot as summer in the middle ofthe day.
Hitchhiking
Aman called Ricky Gilmore was
hitchhiking in New Mexico to a nearby

SAYS
town to buy some alcohol. He got a
lift and the couple who picked him up
asked him to share it.

Always teil someone if you are

going out exploring and when
you plan on returning. That way,
if you go missing, they will know
to send help as soon
as possible.

He refused and they got cross and

dumped him out of the car in the middle
of the desert. What made things worse
was that Gilmore was a wheelchair user
and his chair was back at his house. Over
three days he dragged himself four miles
without food or water before somebody
stopped to help him. He spent more thana
week in hospital recovering.

BEAR SAYS
Water really is the best drink
to consume in any climate,
especially in the desert.
DUST AND SANDSTORMS
CeaeaGeeeHeSHaee
Hoe SeHReHaeeHHoeeeeeseeesOeHeHoeoeeooeooeeege

Sandstorms happen when wind picks up sand and carries it a

long way in a cloud of dust and sand. It can be scary to be ina
sandstorm — you cannot see anything and your eyes, mouth, and
nose are coated in sand.

Sandstorms
Sandstorms are most
common on bare, flat ground,
like the Sahara desert. They
happen mainly in summer
in certain places in the
U.S., such as Kansas and
Oklahoma, where the topsoil
is blown around.

Goggles and face mask will

protect your eyes and face from
the flying sand

In March 2014, people in the UK were surprised

to wake up to find a thin layer of red dust on their
cars. This dust came from the Sahara desert.
Strong winds in the Sahara had lifted the dust
off the ground and high into the atmosphere. The
dust was transported thousands of miles to the
UK, and when it rained the water drops collected
dust particles on the way down. The layer of
dust was left behind when the water eventually
evaporated after it rained.
 Sandstorm survival
@ Listen to local TV or radio information for sandstorm warnings.
e Take a blanket, goggles, mask, and water with you.
e Put a mask over your nose and mouth if you have one. If you don’t have a mask, put
a damp cloth over your nose and mouth.
e You can put asmall amount of petroleum jelly inside your nostrils to stop your
nose drying out.
e Wear goggles, or shield your eyes with your arm, and then wrap a cloth around
your eyes and ears.
e Find shelter as quickly as possible. If there is no shelter nearby, crouch down low
and keep your mouth and eyes protected from the flying sand.
e Keep as much skin and face covered as possible.
e Get to high ground — the storm will be less forceful at the top of a hill.
e If you are with a camel, get it to sit down and press yourself against its sheltered
side — camels are good at coping with sandstorms.
e Stay low to the ground and protect yourself from flying objects — wind-propelled
sand hurts!
e Stay where you are until the storm passes.

Sandstorm impact
Sandstorms might be just wind and dust but
they can cause a lot of damage. Electrical
equipment, tools, homes, and crops are all
at risk of being buried or damaged by the
force of the sand. Sandstorms can move
entire sand dunes and bury crops with the
displaced sand. This is an issue desert
tribes face every year.

You can often outrun a sandstorm

in a car, as they travel quite slowly.
If it catches up with you, stop the
car, roll up the windows, close the
air vents, and wait for the
storm to end.
DESERT AT NIGHT
The sun can heat up the desert to extremely high temperatures
during the day, but at night the desert can be a very cold place.
This is because the sun’s heat warms the air during the day but
at night the warm air escapes upwards because there aren’t any
clouds to trap the heat in. The desert is an area of low humidity
and this is also partly why the temperatures reached in the day
are so different to temperatures at night.

Desert animals at night

Desert animals are often more
active at night, hunting for
food, water, or a mate! Many
mammals, birds, and insects
are nocturnal and the sound of
them at night can be a surprise.
The colder air and ground
temperatures make it easier for
them to move around.

During the day, desert

temperatures can go as high as
50°C, but at night it may fall to
below 0°C.
 Survival at night
e Make sure you have the correct equipment, a good torch, and a warm
sleeping bag.
e Travel at sunset, at night, and in the early morning. Rest during the day if
at all possible.
e Light a fire to keep warm and keep animals away if you aren’t moving.
e Wear lots of layers so that you can regulate your temperature.
e Watch out for nocturnal wildlife.

Thermal imaging device

This technology builds a
picture using heat given off
Night vision goggles by objects. It is most useful
These work by collecting all in near-absolute darkness, or
available light, including some when detecting people.
that we can’t see with the naked
eye, and boosting it using clever
electronics so that the image is
clearly visible.
GLOSSARY
eaeeeeavesesseeeeeseoeseeHaoesoeoeoneaevnoanevnse2e2e20008008098008380900809

Arid - a land area having little or no rain.

Climate - the general weather conditions for a particular area.

Condensation - water that collects on a surface.

Consul - an official person in a foreign country that looks after people

from their own country when they are visiting.

CPR - cardiopulmonary resuscitation - a life-saving procedure carried

out when somebody’s breathing or heart has stopped.

Drought - a long period with less than normal rainfall causing a shortage
of water.

Dune - a mound or ridge of sand formed by the wind.

Evaporation - process of water turning into vapour.

Habitat - the natural environment of a living thing.

Hallucination - a person thinking they see or hear something that isn’t

really there.

Humidity - the amount of water vapour in the air.

Meteorologist - a scientist that studies the weather.

Moisture - a small amount of water.

Nocturnal - something that is active at night.

Northern hemisphere - the half of the Earth that is north of the Equator.

Nutrition - the process of eating the right food for health and growth.

Precipitation - water that falls to the ground as rain, sleet, or snow.

Prevailing wind - the most frequent wind direction that is experienced at a

particular place.

Ravine - a deep, narrow gorge with steep sides.

Shrine - a religious building or shelter.

Southern hemisphere - the half of the Earth that is south of the Equator.

UV light - Ultraviolet light - an invisible part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Venomous - an animal that can inject venom, usually by biting.

 Discover more amazing books in
the Bear Grylls series:
Perfect for young adventurers, the
Survival Skills series accompanies an
exciting range of colouring and activity
books. Curious kids can also learn
tips and tricks for almost any extreme
situation in Survival Camp, explore
Earth in Extreme Planet, and discover
some of history’s greatest explorers in
the Epic Adventures series.

Conceived by Weldon Owen in partnership

with Bear Grylls Ventures

Produced by Weldon Owen, an imprint of Kings Road Publishing

Suite 3.08 The Plaza, 535 Kings Road,
London SW10 0SZ, UK

Copyright © 2018 Weldon Owen, an imprint of Kings Road Publishing

WELDON OWEN
Publisher Donna Gregory
Designer Shahid Mahmood
Editor Susie Rae
Editorial Assistant Thomas McBrien
Contributor Anne Farthing
Illustrator Julian Baker
Cover image © 2018 Bear Grylls Ventures

Printed in Malaysia
PALES 3), 110) 2) Bes} |
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored ina retrieval system
or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, except brief extracts for the purpose of review, without the prior
written permission of the publisher.

Disclaimer
Weldon Owen and Bear Grylls take pride in doing our best to get the facts right in putting together
the information in this book, but occasionally something slips past our beady eyes. Therefore we
make no warranties about the accuracy or completeness of the information in the book and to the
maximum extent permitted, we disclaim all liability. Wherever possible, we will endeavour to correct
any errors of fact at reprint.

Kids — if you want to try any of the activities in this book, please ask your parents first! Parents — all
outdoor activities carry some degree of risk and we recommend that anyone participating in these
activities be aware of the risks involved and seek professional instruction and guidance. None of the
health/medical information in this book is intended as a substitute for professional medical advice;
always seek the advice of a qualified practitioner.

A WELDON OWEN PRODUCTION. AN IMPRINT OF KINGS ROAD PUBLISHING.

PART OF THE BONNIER PUBLISHING GROUP.
 A Bear
Grylls
SURVIVAL SKILLS HANDBOOK

Embark on an amazing adventure with Bear Grylls as

you explore the wild outdoors.
*
Learn how to navigate the desert, find water, and
identify edible foods while hiking through the desert.
*
Includes step-by-step instructions and tips from Bear.

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