/ first_moves
Do these first
/ failure_mode
How this plan fails
Do not ration water so aggressively that heat illness gets worse. If someone is confused, fainting, very hot, or not improving, treat it as a medical emergency.
/ avoid
Do not spend your first mistake here
- Walking away from a stranded vehicle without a known water source and destination.
- Saving water while the body is overheating.
Heat changes the rule of threes. You may not have hours to make a good shelter decision if somebody is already overheating.
Get the person out of direct sun, reduce work, and cool the body. Use shade, wet cloth, airflow, water on skin, or an air-conditioned public place if one is reachable. Do not wait for thirst to be the signal; thirst can lag behind need.
A vehicle can be a landmark, shelter, and signal platform. Leaving it on foot in desert heat is a high-risk decision unless staying is more dangerous and you know exactly where you are going.
The desert plan is not heroic movement. It is timing, shade, water, navigation, and early retreat.