🌵 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:

• Sit, Take stock, Organize, Patience

• Scout, Take stock, Observe, Pick a route

• Stop, Think, Observe, Plan

Hypothermia is often a concern in the desert.

• True

• False

More people drown in the desert than die of thirst.

• True

• False

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

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

• Climb a tree or get on top of a boulder

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

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?

• White or cream colored with very long legs

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

• Brown and hairy with white stripes

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:

• Wet down your clothes with water to help cool down

• 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

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

• Mirror

• Roadside flares

• Flashlight

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

• Morning and evening

• Throughout the day so you can see

• Throughout the night when it is coolest

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

• All of these

• Birds and insects

• Water-loving, broad-leafed trees

• North-facing canyons

It is a myth that you can get water from:

• Following birds

• A solar still built in the sand

• Digging around the roots of broad-leafed trees

• 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:

• By running from shady spot to shady spot

• As quickly as your legs will carry you

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

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

• Under rocks

• All of these

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

• The more you eat, the thirstier you become

• Food attracts predators like snakes and scorpions

• You're more likely to vomit if you eat

The symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• Headaches

• All of these

• Vomiting or nausea

• Dizziness

• Weakness

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

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

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

• 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

• Desert iguana

• Gila monster

What is a good method to stay warm at night?

• Use hot rocks and switch them out frequently

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

• All of these