I would not worry all that much about tapeworms but more about other more rapidly acting parasites if stranded. The one thing about cooking prey is that is really takes the water out of the eats! That is a strong consideration in the desert if no water source is available.
As far as food goes in the American southwest up through the deserts of Idaho, there is often abundant food in warmer months, and not so abundant food in the winter. Almost any animal you find is edible. From among the animals watch out for insects of unknown edible or not properties. You could eat tarantulas after removing hard mouth parts (fangs), you could eat locusts, grasshoppers, crickets and so on. Of course, snakes, lizards, birds, small mammals, eggs are all on the menu. All could be carriers of parasites that are potentially dangerous to you, but if you can make it out in a few days, you must calculate the risk of parasites to NO other source of water. Note that this guy did not try his feat in the deserts of southern Nevada where it is much drier and much harder to find any cacti on which to depend for food or water and where you may have to depend on eating raw snakes.
One of the most important things for desert survival is shelter. When it hits 120 degrees, 5 feet off of the ground, in the shade, and you are out in it, you will know what I mean. Shelter helps you conserve perpiration to soem degree by keeping you out of the sun, it protects from sunburn too, and it lowers the heat you are experiencing. It can be just as important as, or more important than, finding water if you can walk out in a day or two - or maybe even three or four if you have found game to use for its body moisture. Of course water is crucial, but so is shelter.
There is a classic movie out there about one man's survival in terrible conditions - all made up I think, but maybe it is based on a true story - I do not know. It is called the Naked Prey with Cornell Wilde. It shows a man doing what he has to do in order to survive (and while some of it may not be realistic, lots of it is). Good movie, I think one of the best of all time. Not flashy, not great special effects, but I am a buff for some older stuff and that sort of movie.