5 of the Most Common Travel Accidents and How to Recover From Them

No one ever suspects they’ll get hurt on their next cruise, backpacking adventure, or wellness vacation, but trip-based accidents are incredibly common. Being in a new environment can cause us to make more mistakes, which could result in bruises, sprains, or broken bones.

Instead of hoping for an accident-free vacation, prepare for the unexpected by purchasing insurance, reading up on common travel injuries, and the best ways to recover from them.

How to Recover From the Top 5 Most Common Travel Accidents

No matter your destination, always make sure you purchase travel insurance before getting on an international flight. That way, you’re covered financially in case you’re severely injured.

1. How to Recover From Road Accidents

Car, bus, taxicab, and truck accidents are the leading cause of death for healthy travelers. Over 25,000 tourists die in traffic accidents, and it’s usually because the driver has a lack of familiarity with the roads or drinks more than usual. Injuries are also common, ranging from mild to severe.

If you’re vacationing in America and you were in a road accident, consider suing the driver. Be sure to consult a local attorney, like Chicago-based lawyer Dave Abels, to recover economic and non-economic damages if you have car, bus, taxicab, or truck accident injuries right away.

But before you do that, seek medical attention and follow your doctor’s advice. Stay hydrated, keep moving, if possible, and seek rehabilitative treatment for physical or mental scars/wounds.

2. How to Recover From Slips and Falls

Most of us can walk off a minor falling accident, but many vacations are disrupted due to a serious bathroom fall. While falls increase in frequency and severity as we age, they could happen to anyone at any time. That’s why it’s important to always watch where you’re walking.

You should go to the hospital if you are dazed or injured after the experience or hit your head. There’s a chance of internal bruising or concussion, which could cause serious trauma.

To recover from the injury, rest the affected area and ice it for 5-10 minutes at a time. Compress the area using a tensor wrap, elevate it, and gently move it throughout the day. If you have a concussion, take it easy for the first 24 to 48 hours and slowly return to your regular activities.

3. How to Recover From Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is a very serious condition that occurs when the body can’t control its temperature. This is a common illness on vacation because people often vacation to warm, sunny climates and drink much more alcohol, which doesn’t hydrate you nearly as much as water or juice.

Unless you don’t have access to water or shelter, heat stroke is easy to prevent if you stay hydrated, avoid direct sunlight, and go inside if you start feeling dizzy, nauseous, or too hot.

If you or someone you know has heat stroke (or heat exhaustion, the stage before heat stroke), call 911. Sit in cold water or an ice bath until help arrives, and remove any unnecessary clothing. Be sure to wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water the next time you spend time on the beach.

4. How to Recover From Alcohol Poisoning

Many of the accidents on this list could be due to over-drinking. Some resorts or cruise ships may over-serve alcohol to tourists because there’s an assumption they won’t go very far. In most countries, the onus is on the guest to know when to stop drinking, not on the employees.

While it is important to know your limits, many guests do but still end up getting sick. This may be because the drink was spiked or the employee gave the guest more than they ordered.

You should always insist on watching your drink getting poured or opened in your presence. But if you do end up getting sick, tell someone you trust and call 911. If overdrinking was the issue, get a lot of rest, drink plenty of water, and sleep on your side in case you throw up while asleep.

5. How to Recover From Norovirus

Norovirus is typically a non-severe gastrointestinal illness that often appears on cruise ships. It affects at least 100,000 travelers per year and infects passengers quickly. While its symptoms, like vomiting and diarrhea, are very unpleasant, Norovirus often clears itself up in a few days.

Norovirus is often classified as an accident because people infected with the virus can spread it even when symptoms aren’t present. This may make healthy people come in contact with it.

Fortunately, Norovirus doesn’t take you out of commission for long if you sleep it off. Don’t drink any fizzy liquids or fruit juice while recovering, but be sure to up your water intake. If necessary, take paracetamol for fevers, aches, and pains, and eat plain foods like bread, pasta, and rice.