Survival

Welcome to the desert.

Toxic BBQ is fun, chaotic, and full of friends you haven’t met yet. It is also hot, dry, and very good at reminding you that you are, in fact, made of water and soft tissue.

Take care of yourself so you can take care of others.

Sun

The sun is not your friend.

It can take as little as 10-15 minutes to start burning, and yes, that includes time spent in partial shade. Sunburn still happens under trees. UV does not care about vibes.

We will have sunscreen available. Ask for it. Use it. Reapply it.

Also: be radically self-reliant. Bring enough for yourself and your friends. You will need more than you think.

There will be shade from trees, but waiting in line can expose you to direct sun for 30-45 minutes at a time.

Mitigation helps:

Sunburn leads to dehydration, fatigue, and a bad rest of your day. Avoid it early.

Water + Electrolytes

You are losing water constantly, whether you notice it or not.

In desert conditions, your body can start drying out fast. A rough guideline is 0.5-1 liter of water per hour, more if you are active, drinking alcohol, or standing in direct sun.

Water and electrolyte packs will be available. Use them.

Be mindful of alcohol. It makes dehydration easier and awareness harder.

Sleep deprivation, excitement, and general chaos can also mask your body’s signals. By the time you feel it, you may already be behind.

Watch for:

If you notice these, stop and hydrate immediately. Add electrolytes if you can.

It is very easy to slip into dehydration and not realize it until it hits.

Pace

This is a long day.

Six hours in the desert is not nothing. Heat, dryness, wind, and sun all add up.

Pace yourself.

Even though we are providing food and drinks, bring:

Only bring what you can keep track of. There is no coat check and no storage for personal items.

If you need help, or just need to sit, talk, or reset, find a Toxic BBQ volunteer. That is what we are here for.

Take care of yourself. Take care of your friends.

See you at the grill.