When Arizona families think about summer health risks, heat illness, sunburn and dehydration often top the list. But health experts say ticks deserve a spot on that checklist, too — especially for residents heading to higher-elevation areas such as Flagstaff and Payson where tick-borne illnesses are prevalent.
Exposure to ticks is concerning as it can cause Lyme disease.
“A lot of people are traveling right now,” said Aimee Kleppin, a MinuteClinic provider with CVS.
WOMEN IN BUSINESS: The Most Influential Women in Arizona for 2026
WOMEN IN REAL ESTATE: The Most Influential Women in Commercial Real Estate for 2026
“There are other regions that have a high prevalence of deer ticks. When deer ticks are infected, people can contract Lyme disease. Arizona residents need to be aware that it is common in other regions when they’re traveling. They need to avoid contracting these tick-borne diseases.”
In Arizona, the brown dog tick is a particular public health focus because it can transmit the serious Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Cases in Arizona can occur year-round because exposure may happen around homes, yards and dogs.
Kleppin has advice for those traveling: Wear long pants, long sleeves and sturdy closed-toe shoes when hiking or spending extended time outdoors.
Sandals and flip-flops, she noted, not only leave skin exposed but can also increase the risk of ankle injuries on trails.
Insect repellent is another essential tool. The CDC recommends using Environmental Protection Agency-registered repellents containing ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol or 2-undecanone.
Clothing and gear can also be treated with products containing 0.5% permethrin to help repel ticks during outdoor activities. She suggested limiting activities at dusk or dawn, when mosquitoes are most prevalent.
The safety message is especially relevant during the summer, when families may be hiking, camping or spending time in wooded, grassy or brushy areas. In higher-elevation destinations such as Flagstaff and Payson, where many Valley families escape the heat, the same basic rules apply: Stay on marked trails, avoid walking through tall grass or leaf litter, and wear clothing that limits exposed skin.
“You do want to be very cautious about avoiding all of those mosquito bites,” Kleppin said. “It is good practice to wear some of the EPA-registered insect repellents.”
Travel also changes the risk calculation. Arizona residents visiting the Midwest, Northeast, or other regions with higher Lyme disease activity should pack with tick prevention in mind. That means repellent, protective clothing, sunscreen, water bottles, and a basic first-aid kit.
Kleppin recommended broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and reapplying it every two hours, or more frequently after swimming or water activities. She also suggests packing reusable water bottles to encourage steady hydration, particularly for Arizona families used to triple-digit summer temperatures.
A first-aid kit should include bandages, antiseptic wipes, cold compresses, tweezers and a thermometer. Tweezers are especially useful for removing cactus spines — a familiar Arizona trail hazard — and for removing embedded ticks.
If a tick is found attached to the skin, the CDC recommends removing it as soon as possible with fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Afterward, clean the bite area and hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. Avoid folk remedies such as petroleum jelly, nail polish or heat, which can delay proper removal.
After outdoor activity, people should check their clothing, gear, pets and skin for ticks. Showering soon after coming indoors may help wash off unattached ticks, and drying clothes on high heat can kill ticks that may have hitched a ride inside.
People should contact a healthcare provider if they develop fever, rash, headache, muscle aches, gastrointestinal symptoms or other flu-like symptoms after a tick bite or after spending time in tick habitat. Rocky Mountain spotted fever can become severe quickly, and early treatment is important.
