Summer Safety In The Desert - Holidays in 2008 / 2009
Summer Safety In The Desert

If you are new to the desert or are returning after a period of time then there are some things about the desert that are important to know during the summer. The first of course, and the most obvious, is the heat. If you have ever opened your oven and felt that blast of heat come out, that is what it´s like when going outdoors in the middle of the day in the middle of the summer. At one hundred and fifteen degrees, it doesn´t matter if it´s a dry heat, it´s hot. If you have to be out in it or you choose to be out in it, drink plenty of water. Also, protect your skin from the sun. If you´re getting a tan on purpose that´s one thing but if you want to be as cool as possible and not worry about burning then cover up. If you take a lesson from desert dwellers, they cover up in the sun. It really isn´t hotter if you wear light colored loose fitting clothes. You can find some very nice clothes these days with SPF factors to keep you from burning that are light colored and loose fitting and are fashionable, especially for kids.
A large brimmed hat is also a wonder when it comes to sun protection. When the sun is right over you a larger brimmed hat will protect quite a bit of your body. If you find yourself in the desert during a monsoon, be extremely aware of the clouds and where it is raining. It doesn´t have to be raining on you to have a flood that impacts you. If you are walking in the desert at the base of a mountain and it´s not raining on you but it is raining on the mountain, keep a watchful eye and ear open to the fact that water could come rushing off of the mountain fast and furious.
Another thing people in many cities take for granted is rain goes into a precast concrete vault that is made to hold water until it dries up or is pumped away. However, even a Phoenix precast concrete water vault is often not enough due to the vast amount of water dumped in one storm and the fact that the water often doesn´t soak into the hard ground well. The vault fills up much faster and higher than a Fresno precast concrete water vault since the water soaks into the earth much better in California.
The danger is often short lived in the desert due to the evaporation and run off. The water can be fast and furious in a flash flood and the danger is extremely high at that time. Water is amazingly strong and can wash a car away in less than a foot deep stream. Then the water stops and within hours sometimes it´s a dry wash again. The same thing happens in the streets of a desert city.
Even though some desert cities may use a precast concrete vault to hold water, remember that a Phoenix precast concrete water vault may not be as effective as a Fresno precast concrete water vault due to the nature of the land being able to soak up more water in California.