While it may not sound as dramatic as a broken bone or a poisonous snake bite, the most persistent threat in Saudi Arabia is the omnipresent sun. For most of the year, you can expect temperatures above 30°C, with remote desert locations offering little in the form of shelter. When exploring the country’s wilderness, it is essential to take a responsible approach to the climate. Take as much water as you can carry, wear long, loose clothing as well as high-factor sunscreen, and protect your head with a hat. Reports do emerge of desert-going tourists – not only in the Arabian Peninsula but across the world – who succumb to dehydration because they have not taken enough water.

Burns

Whether you were dancing too close to the campfire or touched an overheating vehicle, burns can cause searing pain, redness, inflammation and blistering.

Action

• Cool the burnt area with cold water for about 10 minutes to stop the burning and relieve the pain. If you have no cold water, any other cold liquid like milk or canned drinks will do the job
• Remove any clothing or jewellery from the area before it starts to swell
• Cover with a sterile dressing (even a polythene bag or kitchen film makes a good temporary dressing)
• Never break a blister – you are likely to encourage infection

Dehydration

Caused by not drinking enough fluids. Your body is already mildly dehydrated by the time you feel thirsty – you need to drink before you even feel the need.

Symptoms

Dizziness, headache, skin tingling sensation, goose bumps.

Action

• Rest the affected person in a cool place and replenish lost fluids and salts
• Isotonic glucose drinks are a good choice, as are the special replacement fluids available in powder form
• A good substitute is a teaspoon of salt and five teaspoons of sugar mixed with a litre of water or diluted orange juice

Heat Exhaustion

Loss of water and salt from the body as a result of excessive sweating. It usually develops gradually, and affects those unused to a hot and humid environment.

Symptoms

Headache, dizziness, nausea and confusion. Pale, clammy and sweaty skin. Muscle cramps. Accelerated, weakening rapid pulse and breathing.

Action

• Move the affected person to the coolest place available. Lie them down with their legs raised and supported
• Replace lost fluid by offering small sips of a weak salt solution. Use either the specialised solutions or one teaspoon of salt per litre of water

Heatstroke

Prolonged exposure to very hot conditions, or illness involving a high fever. The body no longer regulates its temperature normally.

Symptoms

Headache, dizziness, restlessness, confusion. Hot, flushed and dry skin. A hammering pulse and deterioration in the level of response. Body temperature of 40°C (104°F) or more. This can lead to unconsciousness in minutes.

Action

• Move the affected person to the coolest place available and remove all outer clothing
• Wrap them in a cold, wet sheet, keeping it damp
• Once their temperature has dropped to 38°C (100.4°F), replace the wet sheet with a dry one and observe constantly. Be prepared to repeat the process if their temperature begins to rise again
• Get to a doctor as soon as possible

Sunburn

Overexposure to the sun.

Symptoms

Redness, itching and tenderness. Blisters in extreme cases.

Action

• Move the affected person to the coolest place available out of the sun
• Sponge with cold water
• Give frequent sips of cold drinks
• Apply after-sun lotion, calamine, aloe vera or yoghurt to soothe mild burns
• For extensive blistering or skin damage, go to a doctor