🌵 Can You Pass This Desert Survival Quiz?

When you discover you are lost or stuck in the desert, the first thing you should do is S.T.O.P. This stands for:

• Stop, Think, Observe, Plan

• Sit, Take stock, Organize, Patience

• Scout, Take stock, Observe, Pick a route

Hypothermia is often a concern in the desert.

• True

• False

More people drown in the desert than die of thirst.

• False

• True

If there is a flash flood heading toward you, your best option is to:

• Climb a tree or get on top of a boulder

• Get to higher ground and avoid being near rocks or trees

• Find a tree branch to use as a boogie board when the wave arrives

Black widow spiders are one of many creatures to be cautious of. You can easily identify one by its appearance. What is the best description?

• Brown and hairy with white stripes

• White or cream colored with very long legs

• Shiny black body with a red "hourglass" marking on the abdomen

Scorpions hunt at night in the desert. One way to detect them is to shine an ultraviolet light on the ground on front of you as you walk.

• True

• False

It’s hot! The best thing to do with your clothes is:

• Roll down your shirt sleeves and pant legs to stay covered

• Take off your shirt and tie it around your head and neck to keep cool

• Wet down your clothes with water to help cool down

What emergency kit item also makes a perfect signal for rescuers?

• Roadside flares

• Mirror

• Flashlight

The smartest time of day to travel in the desert is:

• Throughout the night when it is coolest

• Throughout the day so you can see

• Morning and evening

If you’ve run out of water, what should you look for to find some?

• North-facing canyons

• All of these

• Birds and insects

• Water-loving, broad-leafed trees

It is a myth that you can get water from:

• Digging around the roots of broad-leafed trees

• A solar still built in the sand

• Following birds

• Cutting open a cactus

When you do come across water, you should:

• Drink a small amount and carry the rest with you

• Avoid drinking any right away, and instead store it for later

• Drink as much as possible to replenish your body

Once you’ve chosen a direction to travel, you want to hike:

• As slow as you need to so you don’t overexert yourself

• By running from shady spot to shady spot

• As quickly as your legs will carry you

Heat cramps are a sign that:

• Your body low on sugar

• Your body is low on iron

• Your body is low on salt

Where is the most likely place you'll find dangerous animals like snakes, scorpions or centipedes?

• In caves or holes

• All of these

• Under rocks

You want to avoid eating much in the desert. Why?

• You're more likely to vomit if you eat

• The more you eat, the thirstier you become

• Food attracts predators like snakes and scorpions

The symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• All of these

• Weakness

• Dizziness

• Headaches

• Vomiting or nausea

3 important things to have in your vehicle to avoid being stuck in the desert are:

• An extra quart of oil, a tire repair kit, sand ladders

• A spare tire, a tire jack, a GPS device

• Shovel, extra water, extra fuel

As a food source, most lizards are edible and will make for a decent meal. This one however should be avoided. What is it called?

• Desert spiny lizard

• Gila monster

• Desert iguana

What is a good method to stay warm at night?

• Sleep in a shelter, under trees, or brush because these will keep the heat in

• Use hot rocks and switch them out frequently

• All of these