Sun basking on the beach with glass of cocktail in the hand may not be an ideal holiday style for everybody, thus a new form of holidaying – adventure sports holidays or adventure travel has become really popular. Adventure sports holidays are where travellers get an opportunity to try their hands at adrenal gushing and challenging activities such as mountain climbing, exploring caves, mountain biking, rafting, bungee jumping etc.
Because of its popularity, adventure travel coupled with adventure sports has become a part of the itinerary of almost all camping sites, resorts and hotels around the world that wish to provide their clients with something extra to do on their stay with there. Inclusion of adventure sports surely adds excitement and thrill to a traveller’s halt, but this comes with potential dangers which loom high on personal safety.
Top five risks involved in adventure travel are listed below:
1. All adventure activities and sports include dedicated gear, which is vital and should be used at all time while carrying out an activity. The gear is properly tested before use and almost all activities are carried out in a close observation of an instructor, whose main motive is to maintain your safety and make sure you adhere to all the safety requirements, but there can be a small chance that the safety equipment may fail. Therefore, safety is always an issue with adventure activities.
2. Mountain climbing can be a risky affair because as you travel uphill, the density of the oxygen in the air keeps decreasing which makes breathing difficult. If first aid is not administered, this can lead to chest pain and acute headaches, which if untreated, can lead to heart attack.
3. Mountain biking can be fun until cyclists try to do a little extra. Mountain bikers are at a risk of altitude sickness (as discussed in risk of mountain climbing above) and are also very prone to accidents because of the rough terrains selected for biking.
4. When you hit the water in a raft, you are always wearing a life jacket and are accompanied by an instructor. But the river current can flip you off the boat. Thus, while rafting you’re always at the risk of drowning or injuring yourself in the water.
5. Caving or cave exploration is one of the most thrilling adventure activities. Activity depends on the cave and how travellers negotiate squeezes, pitches, waters and rocks. Though caving has become safer with safety equipment but still travellers and adventurers are at risk of falling rocks, floods, falling, hypothermia and fatigue.
Neil Clymer
