For the adrenaline junkies among us looking for a challenge, adventure holidays are an exciting getaway to conquer fears and make memories. Aside from the fun, adventure holidays can pose risks for holidaymakers because of the great dangers some activities come with, and in some countries, the lack of safety standards.
Whether you’re trekking in a group expedition, bungee jumping, canoeing or exploring a country from above in a hot air balloon ride, it’s important to take the necessary safety steps to ensure your adventure of a lifetime goes to plan:
Before booking any excursion, do a background check on the company carrying out your trip - including how long they have been in service, and look at any reviews
Check if the organisers of the venture comply with safety standards such as the British Standard for Adventurous Activities (BS 8848), or the local equivalent, and how they adhere to this. This standard aims to reduce the likelihood of an accident and gives overseas organisations minimum standards to follow to ensure ventures are planned thoroughly and are carried out as safely as possible. If they do not comply, ask the organisers why they don’t
Before your trip, make sure the provider gives clear information regarding timings, itineraries, potential risks, and health and safety information – what to do in the event of an accident, as well as expertise of the staff in charge. Do not be afraid to ask any further questions and to see a copy of their written incident and emergency plan
Before signing up to a venture, read all of the terms and conditions of the contract carefully and ask questions if points are unclear. Ask for these if they are not sent to you automatically
If your excursion involves the use of equipment, ensure that the organiser has provided efficient safety gear and ask when the equipment was last renewed or checked by officials
Ask the excursion organisers what level of fitness, experience and skill is needed to take part in such activities as you may not be fit enough, in which case you would be held liable in the event of an accident. Remember to pack any medication on trips including epipens and inhalers
Before travelling, ensure you have travel insurance with good medical assistance cover for the whole duration of your trip. If you are holidaying within the European Economic Area (EEA), an EHIC card will enable you to secure access to state healthcare in other EEA countries. This can be obtained online or at your local post office for free, but you shouldn’t rely on this alone. This would not fund for you to be repatriated by air ambulance back home if you were seriously injured
It is important to read the fine print of your insurance policy to make sure that it gives you the right level of cover as many policies do not cover adventure accidents
Keep a copy of any paperwork that you are asked to sign on the day of your trip/excursion
If you have an adventure accident:
You must report the incident as soon as possible to the staff working on the trip or activity
As soon as possible after the accident, contact your travel insurance provider to seek advice on your level of coverage for medical attention. Be aware that some companies have a strict timing policy with a set period for making a claim from the time of the accident, which is worth checking before you travel. It is also useful to have the contact number for your provider to hand
Read the activity organiser’s insurance policy to see what they are covered for in the event of an accident
Make sure that your accident has been recorded by the excursion providers, and keep a copy of this. If possible, take photographs of where the accident happened and what might have caused it. If there are any witnesses at the scene of the accident, take a note of their names and contact details
If you seek medical attention, keep a report of any doctor’s notes, hospital documentation, and medical treatment receipts
If you can, it might be helpful for you/a member of your family to keep a diary of your appointments or any discussions with hotel staff or management
Keep a copy of any complaints correspondence you send
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