How To Avoid The Most Common Travel Accidents

Staying safe during your Spring Break holiday is critical to the enjoyment of your trip — and while you should be wary of scam artists, preventing common accidents and injuries should also be on your list. From car accidents to unexpected illnesses, anything can happen during your spring break trip.

Here’s a list of common accidents and illnesses that you may come across, and how to avoid them.

Drunk Driving Car Accidents
Drinking is an all-time favourite for students going away for Spring Break. Sadly, drunk driving has become increasingly popular these days, with the number of drunk driving-related car accidents rising by 9.1 % during spring break.

If you’re planning to rent a car once you reach your destination, be careful not to drive after you’ve been drinking alcohol. If you want to drink at a party, make sure you have a safe way to get back to the hotel, such as a designated driver. Yes, it may be slightly pricier than if you were the one to drive, but it would be even pricier to be involved in a car accident, wouldn’t it?
- Do pay extra attention to other drivers when driving. The chances of encountering a drunk driver on the road are very high during spring break.
- Don’t assume it’s okay to drive if you’ve had just one glass of booze — it isn’t! If nobody in your group is able to drive, pay for a taxi ride instead.

Traveller's Diarrhoea
There’s nothing worse than spending your spring break time at the toilet, unable to leave your hotel room and enjoy your trip to the fullest. Traveller’s diarrhoea is a common condition that affects between 20-50 per cent of travellers worldwide, and is caused by eating food or drinking water with bacteria that your body isn’t used to. Symptoms to look out for include diarrhoea, abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, bloating, fever, and urgency, to name but a few.

While traveller’s diarrhoea isn’t serious and resolves in a few days with no treatment, severe or extended cases may result in fluid loss and dangerous electrolytic imbalance.
- Do drink only bottled water while you’re travelling. If you’re ordering drinks from a bar, avoid any sort of ice as it’s probably made from the same water. Just to be safe, make sure you know how to order purified water if you’re travelling to a country where locals speak a different language.
- Don’t eat eggs, under-cooked meat and seafood, dairy or raw fruits and vegetables.
- Do drink only bottled water while you’re travelling. If you’re ordering drinks from a bar, avoid any sort of ice as it’s probably made from the same water. Just to be safe, make sure you know how to order purified water if you’re travelling to a country where locals speak a different language.
- Don’t eat eggs, under-cooked meat and seafood, dairy or raw fruits and vegetables.

Swimming-Related Accidents
Flying to a sunny spot to unwind and bathe in the sea or ocean? That’s a splendid idea — but make sure you won’t be exposing yourself to swimming-related hazards. Large waves can be extremely dangerous, so it’s better to avoid venturing too far away from the beach. If there are any warning signs on beaches, such as red or black flags, don’t enter the water. As a rule of thumb, if no one else is in the water, you probably shouldn’t get in either.
- Do stick with a friend when you’re in the water. Make sure somebody knows where you are, and never go swimming alone.
- Don’t dive into unknown bodies of water. You never know if there is a rock or something you can’t see under the water — and since you most certainly aren’t indestructible, hitting it may not be that fun.
- Do stick with a friend when you’re in the water. Make sure somebody knows where you are, and never go swimming alone.
- Don’t dive into unknown bodies of water. You never know if there is a rock or something you can’t see under the water — and since you most certainly aren’t indestructible, hitting it may not be that fun.

Heat Stroke
Oh boy — who doesn’t want to spend the day on the beach bathing in the sun? Since Canada has a colder climate, your skin may not be used to excessive sun exposure, so you’re more prone to getting a sunburn — which can be incredibly painful to bear! You’ll end up bathing in yoghurt instead of sun to help alleviate the discomfort and encourage the sunburn to heal faster. Even worse, too much sun exposure may result in dehydration and heat stroke — a serious condition that may be life-threatening.
- Do apply lots of sunscreen before going outside. Re-apply every few hours so you’re always fully protected, and make sure to use a product with SPF 30.
- Don’t go to the beach between 11 am and 6pm. During this time of the day, chances to get a sunburn or heat stroke are the highest. Go to the beach either before 11am or after 6pm.
- Do apply lots of sunscreen before going outside. Re-apply every few hours so you’re always fully protected, and make sure to use a product with SPF 30.
- Don’t go to the beach between 11 am and 6pm. During this time of the day, chances to get a sunburn or heat stroke are the highest. Go to the beach either before 11am or after 6pm.