A key factor in desert survival is understanding the relationship between physical activity, air temperature and water consumption. The body requires a certain amount of water for a certain level of activity at a certain temperature. For example, a person performing hard work in the sun at 43 degrees Celsius requires 19 litres of water daily. Lack of the required amount of water causes a rapid decline in an individual's ability to make decisions and to perform tasks efficiently.
Your body's normal temperature is 36.9 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Your body gets rid of excess heat (cools off) by sweating. The warmer your body becomes — whether caused by work, exercise or air temperature — the more you sweat. The more you sweat the more moisture you lose. Sweating is the principal cause of water loss. If a person stops sweating during periods of high air temperature and heavy work or exercise, he will quickly develop heatstroke. This is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention.
