Plane tickets? Check. Passport? Check. Sunscreen? Check. Details of the local hospital? No? It’s true that most of us don’t plan on spending any of our well-deserved vacation in a local hospital. But did you know that holiday injuries and illnesses are extremely common? 

You might think that you and your family won’t get into too much trouble whilst you’re away from home for a week or two, but you’d be surprised at the injuries people can sustain whilst they’re on vacation. Whether you’ve slipped and fallen, or you’ve been hit by a drunk driver and you’re wondering what legal options you have, getting hurt whilst away on vacation can be incredibly daunting. 

With this in mind, I’ve gathered 4 of the most common injuries you’re likely to get on vacation. 

Slips, trips and falls

We all know how embarrassing falling over is. But when you fall and you severely hurt and damage yourself, that embarrassment is quickly replaced with pain, fear and concern. Perhaps the carpet in your hotel room isn’t correctly fitted, or maybe the marble floor in the foyer is wet and there was no warning sign. Or maybe you’ve fallen down the stairs in a restaurant because of a faulty hand rail. There are hundreds of reasons why you might slip, fall and hurt yourself, but that doesn’t mean you should let it go. Hopefully your travel insurance will cover you medically, and when you get home you should consider reaching out to a lawyer. 

Sunburn and heatstroke 

We all love getting some sun, but on vacation we all run the risk of getting a little too much. And when we’re enjoying our vacation, having a drink and enjoying a little bit of freedom, it’s easy to forget things like sunscreen, sun hats and keeping ourselves hydrated. So, naturally, sunburn and heatstroke can set in, and in some cases leave people hospitalised and needing emergency treatment. 

Road accidents 

Whether you’ve hired a moped, you’re driving your own car to your destination or maybe you’re a pedestrian and you’ve fallen foul of a bad driver and now you’re spending the remainder of your vacation in hospital. Road accidents are incredibly common when people head abroad, so if you’re driving you need to be more vigilant and do plenty of research before you decide to do so. Don’t forget, if you’re hiring a vehicle, ensure it’s roadworthy! 

Food poisoning

There’s nothing better than indulging yourself on holiday, and when it comes to food who can resist all those buffets, new dishes and as much street food as you can eat? However, sometimes our indulgence comes at a cost and when we’re hit by food poisoning it can completely ruin your holiday fun. Always ensure you’re eating from reputable outlets and the food you’re being served is piping hot and cooked thoroughly. And if you’re in an area that has questionable water quality then avoid water from the taps, ice and having foods like salads and fruit that may have been washed in local water.