6/29/20

Human's Tribune

Volume 2

Issue 23

Monday, June 29, 2020

Desert Survival

By Antoinette Durand

The Sahara Desert, from livescience.com.

Sometimes I find myself daydreaming of a fantastical adventure, far away from the confines of my house. The arctic, maybe, or the jungle. There are plenty of life-threatening things in deserts as well. Pay attention to this article, encase you're stranded in the Sahara.

If you picture a desert, you might see large sand dunes and camels, maybe the occasional oasis. "In fact, only about 20 percent of the world's deserts are covered in sand," according the How Stuff Works. About one third of land on Earth is desert. Dictionary.com defines desert as "a region so arid because of little rainfall that it supports only sparse and widely spaced vegetation or no vegetation at all." 

Obviously, you need water in a desert. Don't count on rainfall because it only rains roughly 300 mm of water per year, according to NASA. The severe heat will make you sweat most of your water. Dehydration is a very real possibility. Dehydration can range from lack of saliva and little urine to vomiting, diarrhea, and no urine. It can be a mistake to ration your water. Of course, don't drink it all: set some aside, but people have been found dead with water in their canteens. Don't just drink when your thirsty, drink before thirst sets in. If you only drink when you feel thirst, you'll only be getting roughly two thirds of the water that you need. Follow a path, it might lead to people. Dig near sycamore, cottonwood, willow, and hackberry trees. Water may be below the surface.

Another thing you'll need is fire. It seem odd, but desert temperatures can drop to 25 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Fire can also keep animals away and serve as a rescue signal.

You should keep a survival pack in your car. Some items could be: 
1. mirror
2. jumper cables
3. drinking water
4. unsalted nuts
5. dried fruit
6. blanket
7. whistle
8. spare tire

Besides fire and smoke as a rescue signal, spelling out help or SOS with sticks works, too. Opening you're hood- if you're in a car- helps if you're stranded by a road. If it's an emergency, burn a spare tire to create dense smoke. 

If you're in a car, don't sit in it. A car heats up fast during the day. Stay with the car, if you see fit.

If you leave your car to hike, be careful. Desert hiking is different than any other type of hiking. Firstly,  walk slowly. Take at least a ten minute break per hour. Make sure you rest in the shade, this is important. Avoid walking during the heat of mid-day. Try hiking exclusively during dawn and dusk. Always take the least strenuous route always.

From How Stuff Works and National Security Council.

Explaining Anxiety

By Ember Hernandez

Before I get into the researched parts of anxiety, let me tell you a bit about my experiences. Anxiety is almost like a handicap for me. I’ll choose an action to do, for example, talking to my friends about my issues, and a thousand What if’s pop into my head. If my parents go out, my mind will trick me into thinking the worst when really they’re okay. It’s very hard to ignore these strong thoughts, and sometimes they make me lash out, or even trip into tears. Sometimes I’ll just stay in my room for most of the day, and put off all my tasks. It’s hard to apologize to people for this, because it’s hard to talk to people in general.  It’s more than mere fear too. Sometimes my throat feels like it’s burning and I start to get hot and upset. But what causes this?

There’s no one reason that causes people to become anxious. It might start when you worry about what people think, or if you’ve been treated badly by family members or friends. It makes you assume the worst of everything. The part of your brain that causes fear might be more exercised if you’ve entered middle or high school because you have to worry about grades, tests, tasks, homework, friends, and being popular. Sometimes it just works into your brain though. It’s easy to give into the voices telling you that people hate you, or your parents are disappointed, or you’re an awful person, but sometimes the “worries” are completely wrong. You might think of a scenario, but sometimes it’s simple as your friend telling you she was just stressed about a math test. The real issue is how to stop it.

There are many ways to calm down and relieve stress, so here’s a few examples: Eat healthier. It’ll give you more satisfaction and help you relax. Journaling is a good way to release stress and let your feelings out on paper. You should also set priorities. You have your phone on a hilarious video, but you need to clean your room? Put what’s more important first. Meditate to relax sometimes, and maybe go out in nature more. The last thing I suggest to calm you is reach out for help. More people have anxiety than you think. You’re not alone.