10 Most Horrific Holiday Injuries

We plan our holidays and look forward to them throughout the course of the year.  Some of us may take multiple holidays while others will only take a holiday on special occasions.  The one thing that nobody looks forward to on his or her holiday is illness or injury.

Unfortunately, many people each year will be unable to avoid injury during their holiday.  In the majority of cases the injury will be a complete accident; even someone exercising extreme caution would have been unable to prevent the injury from taking place.  Wise people prepare for the financial impact of such an event by purchasing special travel insurance that will cover any injury that they might encounter when taking part in specified activities, such as skiing.

You don’t want to see these lovely people on holiday

One common holiday injury that many people will experience each year is sunburn.  While at first thought sunburn might seem minor, be aware that severe sunburn can be quite traumatic.  Sunburns can cause a great deal of pain which makes it incredibly difficult to move around.  Severe sunburn can also cause large blisters that can become infected if not kept cleaned.

A number of people develop heat stroke in addition to severe sunburn.  This could require the help of a physician as a fever and dizziness are common symptoms.  Anyone that has received a severe sunburn or heat stroke while on holiday will tell you that it certainly takes the fun out of the trip.

Nasty, but nicely patterned

Car accidents are not uncommon events for travellers.  In many cases, the area where you are enjoying your holiday will have different driving regulations than you are used to.  Travellers are also less familiar with their surroundings which make them more prone to accidents.  This is because they are busy watching for street signs or consulting a map which serves as a distraction while driving.  Car accidents can result in numerous horrific injuries that range from multiple broken bones to the removal of organs.  In some serious cases, death can occur as well.

Car accidents. In flip-flops

While some of us love a tropical sunny holiday, others head to the mountains to enjoy a nice frosty holiday instead.  Skiing is a great sport that thousands of people enjoy every year.  This sport involves a slippery snow covered surface that can have patches of ice.  People who ski often generate a great deal of speed.  When these two elements come together, a ton of thrills and a lot of danger is created.

The range of horrific injuries that can be obtained during a skiing holiday is vast.  Torn ACLs are common and generally require surgery to repair.  Broken bones that include everything from legs to the pelvis are common as well.  Some of these injuries will take many months to recuperate from.  In certain really horrific cases, the arm or leg could be so badly damaged that amputation is required.

One word: Ouch!

Another common holiday activity that can produce horrific injuries is skydiving.  While it might seem like a fun way to enjoy a bit of carefree holiday time, keep in mind that this is certainly a sport that comes with a number of risks.

Although skydiving accidents result in a number of fatalities, often times these disasters are survivable.  It is likely that anyone that survives a serious skydiving accident will suffer a number of horrific injuries in the process.  This can include many broken bones and possible disfigurement.  Even after a complete recovery, the victim may feel pain throughout the duration of their life.

Falling through the air isn’t safe?

Travel is a common aspect of every holiday.  Many choose to head to a destination which requires transportation by aircraft.  While planes are considered to be a safe form of travel, accidents still happen.  In many tragic accidents, all onboard are killed.  Other accidents result in serious injuries that range from hypothermia and heart attack to broken bones and paralysis.

Along with skydiving, bungee jumping is another popular activity to experiment with during a holiday.  Although we most likely think about hitting the ground in a bungee jumping accident, it is not the only way that serious injuries can be sustained.  Because the body is subjected to serious forces during the jump, a person can experience everything from severe whiplash to blindness.  Serious back injuries frequently are the result of bungee jumping as well.

Cruise ships seem like an ideal way to spend a holiday.  This type of travel also presents a number of significant risks which many of us may never have thought about.  Consider a situation where you have a slippery upper deck and high winds.  In the right situation, a person could accidentally fall overboard into the sea.  Each year a number of people are involved in this type of accident and many of them are killed from the impact of the fall.  Those that survive the fall will have to wait for rescue which could lead to hypothermia.

White water rafting and kayaking are great ways to enjoy the water while also experiencing a few thrills.  These are both great ways to enjoy a holiday but caution should always be exercised as serious injury is a real threat.  As nature is unpredictable, you never know when an unexpected wave could rock your kayak or raft and cause you to go overboard.  In this process you could risk serious trauma as your head, arm, or other body part could be crushed against a nearby rock.

Remembering that nature is unpredictable, a beach vacation can carry a number of risks.  In serious cases, a tsunami could strike the beach and completely leave your holiday location in disaster.  Tsunamis can lead to death and horrific injuries including any number of broken bones and psychological trauma.

It’s quiet. Almost too quiet

Another risk that a beach vacation presents is shark attack.  There are probably few people that step foot into the ocean on their holidays who do not think about the possibility of sharks looming nearby.  Shark attacks have left vacationers with missing limbs and impressive scars.  In many cases, shark attacks are serious enough to kill the victim as well.  Although they are rare, injuries caused during a shark attack are horrific.

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