In a desert survival situation, you do not want to be moving around during the day. The cooler night air enables you to travel farther and faster with minimum danger of heat exhaustion. In hot climates, this single decision will save your body about three liters (three quarts) of water per day. If you don't have a shaded car to stay in, string cords between a pair of objects in a place that gets shade most of the day. Drape a sturdy emergency blanket over the cords. Place a few pieces of brush on top of the blanket, then cover it with another emergency blanket (this one can be a thin Mylar sheet). The gap of air between the two blankets insulates the shelter, keeping it cooler. Build this in the evening or at night. If you build it during the day, you'll trap heat in. You can use an existing rock overhang or cave instead, but approach carefully as an animal may be using it. Building a fire is a great way to make a signal, creating smoke during the day and light at night. While in transit, keep a signal mirror in reach to reflect light at passing aircraft or distant cars. If you plan to stay in one spot until rescue, place rocks or objects on the ground to write SOS or a similar message, readable by aircraft. If you have a supply of water and someone knows where you are, staying in one place may be your best chance of rescue. Traveling to find help will exhaust you much faster than staying in place, and water loss will cut your survival time way down if you can't find another supply. That said, if your water supplies are low, you will need to look for more. You cannot expect to survive more than a couple of days if you run out of water. . If there's been a rainstorm recently, you may find pockets of water in rock outcrops or flat stone surfaces. More often, you'll need to search for areas with possible groundwater: Follow animal tracks leading downhill, birds circling around something, or even flying insects. Walk to the greenest vegetation you can see, especially large plants with wide leaves. Follow canyons or dry river beds upstream, and look for a depression, especially on the outside edge of a bend. Look for a slope of hard, non-porous rock, where rainwater would run into the soil. Dig in the sand or soil at the base of this slope. In developed areas, look for buildings or troughs. When the sun is low, its glare will reflect off distant metal objects and water collection structures. Once you've found one of the areas above, dig about 30 cm (1 ft) down. If you feel any moisture, enlarge the hole to about 30 cm (1 ft) in diameter. Wait for a few hours for the hole to fill with water. Purify water whenever possible. If you don't have the option, drink. Even if you do get sick, it will usually take a few days for symptoms to appear, while dehydration will get you much faster. Besides groundwater, you can find dew gathering on plants before dawn. You may also find water in hollow tree trunks. Gather these sources with an absorbent cloth, then squeeze it into a container. Half-buried rocks have a cool base in the early morning. Turn them over before dawn so a little condensation forms.

Summary: Become nocturnal. Stay in a shelter during the day. Signal for help. Decide whether to stay in place. Find water sources Dig for water. Look for water elsewhere.

You can more actively be involved with your child's education by making sure that you communicate with her. One of the best ways to do this is by asking questions. This shows that you care and are interested in her school life and what she is learning. Ask open-ended questions. Try to avoid questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no. Instead of saying, "Did you have a good day?", try "What was the best part of your day?". This will give you a better opportunity to develop the conversation. Kids want to feel like you respect and value their feelings and opinions. When you ask a question, make sure that you actively listen to the answer. There are many ways to demonstrate that you are listening. Ask follow-up questions. If your child says, "Gym class was cool today," ask a question like, "What made it great? What did you do?" Use positive body language. Maintaining eye contact and nodding your head are excellent ways to show that you are paying attention. Set aside time each day to spend with your child. This will allow you to get a more accurate sense of what is going on in her life, including school activities. If possible, try to eat dinner together each night. Meals are a great time to talk about the day. Schedule time to attend your child's activities. If she sings in a choir, make sure to attend concerts. It will show her that you are interested in her life. Offer to help with homework. Set aside time each evening to help your child with any problems that are giving her trouble. Providing supportive words is one of the best ways to help your child succeed. Be an active participant in her education by cheering her on when she succeeds and offering support when she struggles. Your feedback is important to helping your child learn more and grow as a student. Offer positive reinforcement. If your child gets an "A" on a spelling test, that is cause for celebration. If your child struggles on an assignment, try to figure out what went wrong. Ask her if she needs more time at home to work on projects, for instance.

Summary: Ask questions. Listen carefully. Make time for your child. Offer encouragement.

Check with your carrier first about fragile, potentially hazardous, and international shipments. The destination country you're shipping to may have restrictions you should know about so that your package is accepted. Check the Individual Country Listings of the International Mail Manual for rules regarding the country you're sending to. Things that can decompose easily or can't be reasonably expected to arrive at their destination without spoiling can't be mailed internationally. For example, fresh vegetables, fruit, meat and other items. Dry ice cannot be sent via international mail. You may be able to use a carrier who offers temperature controlled freight services, depending on what your sending. Consult with carriers about your individual situation. If you are sending homemade canned or jarred foods, you should check with the National Center for Home Food Preservation for information on which foods are considered unsafe for canning and are not recommended as gifts. Home-processed cheese and meat shouldn't be mailed, as the moisture and acidity are unknown and can cause harmful bacteria. Examples of foods that are considered unsafe for canned gifts include herbs or vegetables in oil, breads or cakes, homemade chocolate or fudge sauce, and pumpkin butter. Use only jars and lids that are recommended for canning, and only recipes tested for processing by reliable sources. If possible, notify the recipient first and schedule a delivery date that works for both of you. If the item is food that should arrive cold, tell them to ensure that it is still refrigerator cold when they open the package. Notify the recipient that they should refrigerate or freeze the food immediately. Your carrier is responsible to deliver the perishable items on time, but the customer is responsible for someone being available to receive the package. If the item is food that should arrive cold, tell the recipient not to eat or even taste it if the following condition isn't met: the food should be delivered partially or fully frozen, or at least refrigerator cold. If unsure, the recipient can use a food thermometer to check: it should not be above 40F (4.4C). The FDA recommends that you ship perishable items using overnight delivery. Avoid sending at the end of the week. Your perishable items will probably sit in a shipping facility over the weekend. Send items as early in the week as possible. Consider where the recipient is and whether they can receive food and refrigerate it on acceptance. Will their residence or place of work be better for this? If you're sending items to an office, make sure that it will arrive on a weekday. Also ensure that the office has refrigerator space for keeping the items cold.
Summary: Ensure you can send the item. Be informed about homemade canned or jarred foods. Tell the recipient first. Consider how to send the parcel.