Hiking Medical Emergencies: Some things to watch for this hiking season
September 18, 2026
By Annette Such
Beautiful yet feisty hedgehog
The Sedona Westerners, a social hiking club with more than four hundred members, emphasizes preparation and safety. As a new hiking season begins, it is a good time to review a few simple practices that can help prevent small problems from becoming serious emergencies.
One of the most important concepts hikers should remember is the acronym STOP: Safety First, Take Stock, Options, Plan and Proceed.
When an injury or medical issue occurs, staying calm and assessing the situation can prevent a bad outcome from becoming worse. Hikers should never hesitate to call 911 when faced with a potentially serious emergency. This article is intended for general hiking awareness and is not a substitute for wilderness first aid training or professional medical advice. There are also many great resources online including this one from the National Park Service: https://www.nps.gov/locations/arizona/plan-ahead.htm.
The Most Common Hiking Injuries
While hikers often think about snakes and scorpions, cactus injuries are among the most common, and painful, desert mishaps. Prickly pear, cholla, and other native cacti can leave hikers with anything from a few irritating spines to a multitude of embedded barbs. Cholla cacti are particularly troublesome because its segmented joints detach easily and can latch onto clothing, boots, pets, or skin with surprising force. This is why this cactus is sometimes called “jumping” cholla. It seems to jump right onto passing hikers!
If a cactus spine becomes embedded, remove it as soon as practical using tweezers. Avoid squeezing the area, which can drive spines deeper. After removal, wash the affected area with soap and water, apply an antibiotic ointment, and monitor for signs of infection. Tiny hair-like glochids from prickly pear cacti can be especially difficult to remove; adhesive tape can help lift many of these small spines from the skin. Household glue can also help in removing stubborn spines. Let it dry completely and peel off gently. Prevention is simple: stay on established trails, avoid stepping backward or off trail without looking, and give all desert vegetation a wide berth. Many experienced Sedona hikers carry a small pair of tweezers in their hiking first-aid kit specifically for cactus encounters. A moment of caution can prevent a painful interruption to an otherwise enjoyable day on the trail.
Cuts, Scrapes, and Desert Critters
The rocky terrain around Sedona can easily lead to abrasions and lacerations. The first priority is stopping any bleeding through direct pressure. Wounds should then be irrigated with clean water, treated with an antiseptic, and covered with a protective dressing. Active hikers should ensure their tetanus vaccination remains current. Arizona’s wildlife presents additional concerns. Scorpions account for more than 11,000 stings annually statewide. Most stings cause localized pain and swelling, but more serious symptoms such as muscle spasm, difficulty breathing, or weakness require prompt medical evaluation.
Rattlesnake bites are far less common but far more serious. Arizona experiences roughly 250 rattlesnake bites annually. Victims should avoid ice, suction devices, or cutting the wound. Instead, the affected area should be gently cleaned, immobilized, kept below heart level, and the individual should seek emergency medical care immediately.
Head Injuries Demand Attention
A fall on Sedona’s slickrock can result in head trauma. While a minor bump without loss of consciousness may not require evacuation, hikers should watch carefully for “red flag” symptoms including worsening headache, nausea, vomiting, confusion, memory loss, seizures, or weakness. Any loss of consciousness, especially in hikers over age 65, should be taken seriously and generally signals the end of the hike and the need for medical evaluation.
Hydration: Not Just a Summer Concern
Many hikers associate dehydration with summer heat, but the dry desert air, winter hiking conditions, and elevation can also contribute significantly to fluid loss. A hiker can lose approximately one quart of water per hour through sweating, and even mild dehydration can impair the body's ability to cool itself.
Best practices include drinking water before a hike, hydrating regularly during activity, and replenishing electrolytes. However, hikers should also avoid overhydration. Excessive water consumption without electrolyte replacement can lead to hyponatremia, a potentially dangerous condition caused by low blood sodium levels. Symptoms may include headache, nausea, confusion, seizures, and, in severe cases, death.
Heat Illness Can Become Life-Threatening
Sedona’s intense sunshine and summer temperatures can quickly turn a pleasant outing into a medical emergency. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are among the most common heat-related rescue calls in Arizona. Older adults, overweight individuals, those with chronic medical conditions, and people taking certain medications face increased risk.
Early treatment involves moving the affected hiker into shade, cooling them with water and airflow, and providing fluids with electrolytes. However, confusion, inability to stand, absence of sweating, or loss of consciousness are signs of heat stroke and warrant an immediate 911 call.
Preparation Is the Best Medicine
Perhaps the most important takeaway is that many hiking emergencies can be prevented. Carrying a basic first-aid kit, staying hydrated, knowing personal limitations, and hiking with appropriate gear can dramatically reduce risk. A well-stocked first-aid kit should include bandages, tweezers, gauze, tape, moleskin, antiseptic supplies, medications, and an emergency splint. Sedona's trails offer some of the most spectacular hiking in the Southwest. By preparing for the unexpected and recognizing the warning signs of common medical emergencies, hikers can help ensure their adventures remain memorable for all the right reasons. We have hiking groups for just about every ability, and are spread out throughout the week, so you can choose what’s best for you. For the week of September 20th, we have adventures planned to Hart Prairie in Flagstaff, Trancept, Baldwin and Templeton, Jack’s Canyon to Woods Canyon, and Walnut Canyon once again up in Flagstaff. Check out sedonawesterners.org for all the details and information on how to join us on the trails!