Staying Hydrated & Safe In The Heat – Grand Staircase Escalante

Summer is reaching its peak and that means the heat is on! This also means that while hiking, camping, backing and visiting The Grand Staircase you will want to stay extra hydrated to avoid dehydration. Remember, this is a desert landscape, so temperatures can rise and not having enough water can be detrimental to your health here. Sun safety in general is very important here in the desert.

Photo Credit: RIGHTBRAIN on flickr

Top 5 things to survive these dry and barren conditions:

1. Bring plenty of water to drink.
2. Wear a hat to protect your face from sun damage.
3. Try keeping all outdoor adventuring to early mornings or evenings, avoid mid-day temperatures.
4. Hang out in the shade as much as possible.
5. Wear plenty of sunscreen.

Unfortunately not everyone is prepared for the deserts arid conditions, and many people die each year due to heat stroke, dehydration and all in all poor practice of sun safety. To avoid these situations drink plenty of water while out hiking and camping in the area. Try to avoid drinking alcohol or coffee if possible, and if you have consumed that, then make sure to drink even more water. Start your day out completely hydrated to avoid being already deficient in water in turn causing you to need to drink more while out.

Look for the signs of dehydration to put a stop to it before it gets out of hand, such as a headache. Some more symptoms include; dry eyes, nose bleeds, irritated/dry throat, lungs feeling dry and muscle cramps. It is pertinent that if you start getting dehydrated you drink water immediately and continue to drink 4-6 ounces every 15-20 minutes to help rehydrate you. If your symptoms are worsening – EVEN A LITTLE BIT – you will want to stop hiking and find shade immediately to cool off and rehydrate in. If your symptoms get worse you may need to get to a doctor as soon as possible. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FINISH A HIKE IF YOU ARE NOT WELL HYDRATED – This is what causes fainting, vomiting (in turn making you more dehydrated) and vertigo and worse, death.

Please try to be as prepared as possible when exploring around these areas and stay hydrated. The desert can be an unforgiving place especially in these climbing temperatures. Safety and health must always come first when exploring any kind of outdoor recreational center.

Have a safety plan in place for if you or anyone in your group experiences any sort of dehydration, heat stroke or heat exhaustion symptoms.