Clothing

Instinctively you want to take clothes off. That is a mistake. Clothing protects you from the sun, slows the evaporation of sweat (so it cools you instead of being lost), and prevents burns that worsen dehydration.

• Long-sleeved shirt and long pants, loose and light-colored.
• Wide-brimmed hat; if you have none, a cap with a cloth covering the back of your head and neck.
• Scarf or bandana around your neck. Wetting it cools you, but only if you have water to spare.
• Sunglasses: the glare off sand and rock tires your eyes and makes it hard to see.
• Closed boots and thick socks: they protect against thorns, hot rocks, scorpions, and snakes.
• A warm layer for the night.
• Sunscreen on your face, ears, and the backs of your hands.