Accidents and emergencies can turn anyone’s desert trip into a life and death situation. But you don’t need to be a full-blown survival expert to stay alive. Here are eight simple tips for staying alive so you can tell your grandkids the story one day.

1.  Keep a Lid on It: Keep your head covered, either with a big hat or whatever you can find. If the top of your head is exposed to the sun, your body wastes lots of precious energy keeping cool.

2.  Find Some Cover: Now that your head is covered, get the rest of your body out of the sun. Construct your own shade shelter or hide from the heat behind a cactus or shrubs, a rock outcrop, or in a ravine. Wait for the cool evening or morning hours to forage for food and travel.

3.  Don’t Drink the Water: Well, don’t guzzle it. Take small, rationed sips throughout the day, and monitor your dehydration- the darker your urine, the more water you need. Be wary of any water you find- it may be contaminated- the last thing you can afford is getting sick.

4.  Stay Hungry: The more you eat, the thirstier you get. Nibble enough to keep your energy up. If you don’t have any water, don’t eat.

5.  Keep Your cool: Panicking makes a bad situation dangerous. Assess your predicament and make a plan. If you’re lost, stay put- your chances of being rescued will drop if you wander off.

6.  Make Your Mark: If you do try to head back, mark your original location and your route as you go along. Use landmarks in the distance to keep you on track.

7.  Keep Your Mouth Shut: Conserving energy is everything, so move slowly and breathe through your nose to slow the rate of dehydration.

8.  Hunker Down: As hot as things get doing the day, the nighttime cold can kill. Find a cozy spot to spend the night where you can keep warm and stay alive.
For more survival know-how: check out Discovery.com.