Welcome! Your question is not off the mark at all! Stick around and I am sure that you will get some great answers to that question and the follow-up question that I suggest at the bottom of this post.

OK so you are caught out in the desert with nothing but what you are wearing - is this the scenario?

Well this is a matter of education. If you brain is adequately stocked you will be better off.

First, Don't move in the day time.

Second, Ten inches under the surface is much more comfortable than on the surface - both day and night.

Third, Don't discount what you are wearing.
do you have glasses? They can work as a mirror to signal planes (not well but better than nothing)
do you have a long-sleeve shirt? You might be more comfortable in the day using that as a sun shelter rather than wearing it.
do you have any water?
do you have any knives?

This forum has helped me to start thinking in terms of potential problems and prepare for them. I always carry some cord and a trash bag with me. I didn't do that before but I do now. so unless I was naked I would have those items with me. If I were dropped out of a commercial airline I wouldn't have any sharps but otherwise Iwould have my leatherman at-least. When traveling I always have a liter or more of water.

Rather than think about the above scenario (where you are probably not going to make it more than a few days at best) take stock of what you have and can carry and what you might be able to add to your pockets so that you won't find yourself in such a bad situation.

If you rephrase your question to:
What would you carry in you pockets as minimal items when traveling in a desert so that getting stranded wouldn't mean death?
I think that you will get much more informative answers. <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />