How to survive w88 slot online Burning Man

(Note: University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine Associate Professor Gary Johnson, M.D., has seen some playa dust in his time. As a 25-year veteran of Burning Man and a former member of the festival's medical team, he's also seen the type of maladies that come with a week of extreme temperatures, low visibility for drivers and cyclists, dust and more dust. From w88 slot online journey to the desert, to w88 slot online final day on the playa, Dr. Johnson shares his time-tested safety tips.)

Prep for the journey

Watch speed limits carefully when going through Wadsworth, Nixon, Empire and Gerlach. Give yourself plenty of time to get through the gate on the playa, and even more getting out after the burn. Traffic, accidents, rain and dust storms can bring w88 slot online travels to a halt any time of the week, and there is always a possibility of being stuck in w88 slot online car for 12 hours or so.

For the trip in, I recommend packing:

• Full gas tank, extra set of car keys, windshield wiper fluid
• Consider carrying additional gas, but only if w88 slot online can do so safely
• Snacks/food, blanket, water, book or magazines
• Bottle for urine/sealable container

Bike basics

A wide-tire mountain bike or beach cruiser is important. You should have a bike lock, water bottle cage and a tennis ball for w88 slot online kickstand (so it doesn't sink into the playa). You also want to be very visible out there, so put plenty of lights on w88 slot online bike and w88 slot online body.

More about those lights

I like battery-powered LED light strings for w88 slot online body and bike, and solar-powered LED for camp. Electroluminescent (EL) wire can be great, but is expensive and can be unreliable. Glow sticks are wasteful and gauche, but OK in a pinch.

Daily camp essentials

Don't leave camp without a hat, bandana, goggles and water. Consider a pack to hold those items along with lights for w88 slot online body, a headlamp, some cash for coffee or ice, sunblock, snacks and a little toilet paper, which can all fit into a gallon zip seal plastic bag. You may want to sample some of the coffee, food and alcohol offered as gifts, in which case carry a plastic cup, spoon and a photocopy of w88 slot online driver's license. Also, learn how the streets are laid out before venturing out on w88 slot online own. Landmarks, including street signs, start disappearing later in the week.

Bring a warm sweater for the evenings when the temperature dips. And it's always a good idea to pack baby wipes for bathing, extra sunglasses, trash bags, a first aid kit, a pocket multi-tool and a lawn chair (fold it up when leaving camp).

Cell phones

Cell service can happen, but is more and more unreliable as the week goes on. Dust is hard on electronics, and hundreds of phones get lost every year. For w88 slot online own safety and to ID w88 slot online cell phone, take a picture of a sign stating w88 slot online name, playa address and home address and set it as w88 slot online lock screen.

Shelter

If you're tenting it, you'll need longer (10-12 inch) stakes to keep w88 slot online shelter from blowing away. If using rebar, cover the tips to avoid lacerations. A heavy cooler chest inside the tent is a good option. Try setting w88 slot online tent up while it is still light outside to avoid inadvertently encroaching on theme camps or villages.

Playa Foot

When w88 slot online first arrive on the playa, the dust feels like talcum powder. After a few days, the alkali in the powder causes a type of burn, known as "playa foot." Bring white vinegar to soak dusty feet and other areas. Mix vinegar with water 1:4, and follow with moisturizer.

Desert dining

w88 slot online may not feel like cooking. Previously prepared, simple meals are often the best. w88 slot online still want some sort of cook stove, utensils, plates and a table for it all.

Odds and ends

• Bring all necessary medications. This is particularly true if w88 slot online take pain medicines or sleep aids, as the medical tent cannot provide them for w88 slot online.
• Find something funky to wear. Stay away from boas, glitter or anything that could leave litter.
• Physical gifts aren't absolutely essential; just find ways to contribute.

Bring a gallon and a half of water per person each day. Stay hydrated. But don't just drink loads of water, as it can cause hyponatremia-a condition where drinking too much water can dilute the sodium levels in w88 slot online blood and can lead to nausea, fatigue, headache or confusion, cramps, irritability and even seizures or a coma in more serious cases. Thirst and the color of w88 slot online urine are usually the best indications of how much water you need. If you're not thirsty and w88 slot online urine is pale yellow, you are likely hydrated. Eat crackers or something else salty to keep w88 slot online sodium levels stable.

Find access to shade beyond w88 slot online tent.

It's good to take a few days just to get acclimated to the surroundings. And don't forget to bring a good dose of common sense too. The festival is a great place to expand w88 slot online horizons, but know w88 slot online limitations and pace yourself.

As a member of Burning Man, a community built on self-reliance, participants are responsible for their own health and basic first aid. However, if w88 slot online or someone w88 slot online know (or encounter) requires medical assistance, w88 slot online may contact an emergency services department volunteer or a Black Rock Ranger, or visit one of the six medical stations. All are easily identified by a large, illuminated red cross. Burning Man also has a Nevada-licensed independent center for emergency care. Trained emergency medical personnel are on duty 24 hours a day.

(Pictured: UNR Med faculty Richard Williams, M.D., and Gary Johnson, M.D., are playa veterans, having provided medical care at Black Rock City for several years. Photo by Brin Reynolds/UNR Med.)