Last updated: May 17, 2024
Travel ought to be an opportunity to relax and destress. However, there are dangers that come with being too carefree. Exploring new territory can result in new hazards, and many people don’t protect themselves against these hazards. This can result in injuries that can be costly to treat and in some cases life threatening. Below are four of the most common injuries that people experience when travelling, and how to prevent them.
Traffic injuries
Road accidents are the most common cause of death and injuries among international travellers. This includes injuries sustained while driving and injuries sustained as a pedestrian. With the help of a personal injury lawyer, many people are able to cover the cost of treatment. However, many traffic injuries can take a long time to recover from – with some affecting people for life.
Many traffic injuries are a result of travellers not understanding the difference in driving law and driving culture. If you’re hiring a car, it’s important to carefully research this to avoid making a potentially deadly error. Meanwhile, don’t take chances when crossing the road as a pedestrian and understand how people react to crossings (in some countries, vehicles don’t stop for zebra crossings).
Sports injuries
Sports injuries are another very common travel injury. This typically includes hiking injuries, ski injuries, cycling injuries and water sports injuries. Torn tendons and broken bones are some of the most common sports injuries.
How can you avoid such sports injuries? By knowing your own ability and not trying to overexert yourself or push yourself further than you are comfortable. Many ski injuries are caused by people taking on pistes that are too advanced for their ability or overestimating their ability to stop in time. Unless you’re a very good skier, be very careful when taking on new slopes.
Alcohol-related injuries
Many people injure themselves abroad while under the influence of alcohol. Slips and falls are some of the most common alcohol-related injuries.
While a trip abroad can be a great time to let loose, it’s important to be careful of how much you drink – especially when negotiating unfamiliar places. Know your limits and don’t push them. Make sure that you’re also drinking plenty of water and eating well, as this can affect how you react to alcohol.
Bites and stings
Bites and stings are another common travel injury. While this can include larger animals like dogs, some of the most common culprits are bugs like mosquitoes and ants. In tropical countries, some of these bugs are poisonous, while others carry potentially lethal diseases like malaria. Such bites may not seem like an issue at first, but can slowly become more serious over time.
To avoid being bitten or stung, be careful about where you explore and consider spraying yourself with insect repellent. Looking into vaccinations or medication can also be a good idea when travelling – malaria tablets may be unpleasant, but they could save your life if you are bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus. You can find out if such diseases are a risk in your chosen destination by doing research online before you travel.
Leave a Reply