You can suffer from a personal injury wherever you are. But being somewhere new could increase the chances, purely because you’re not familiar with your environment. You may also be relaxing by having a few more drinks than you would typically, which can increase your chances of an accident.

So how can you ensure you’re keeping yourself as safe as possible when you head off on your holiday?

Research your destination

Wherever you choose to go on holiday, you’ll face certain hazards. What these are will depend on where you’re visiting. That’s why it’s vital to be prepared for what you might face. Do your research and discover what you might be dealing with when you arrive.

From insects carrying certain diseases to particularly dangerous drivers around the country, it’s important to find out what you need to be on the look out for. The potential dangers in one country could be entirely different to what you’re used to in Spain and preparation is key to avoiding major mishaps.

You should also keep up-to-date with the political situation in the region you’re visiting. And don’t forget to brush up on what might be considered inappropriate or offensive behaviour there, so you avoid getting yourself into hot water.

Be careful with activities

When you’re on holiday, you might want to try out different activities that you might not be able to take part in at home. But since you’re trying them for the first time, you might want to take it easy. Pay attention to what your instructor tells you and don’t just decide to do your own thing.

Having the right insurance in place will be invaluable if something happens while you’re doing something like jet skiing or snowboarding. You won’t want to have to deal with the bills and paperwork that comes with an accident without the necessary insurance.

You’ll need to pay special attention to children taking part in any sort of activity they might not be used to. This is true for teenagers too as they’re at that stage in their life where they want to show off. This kind of behaviour could be dangerous. Don’t let them get away with not using the right equipment.

Know when you’ve had enough

On holiday, your intention is to have a good time. But this can soon lead to overindulgence. So it’s wise to stay in control, particularly because you’re somewhere unfamiliar where you might be more at risk.

Alcohol can dull your senses and your inhibitions, meaning you’re not able to recognise hazards for what they are. This leaves you in a vulnerable position. Drinking too much can also leave you feeling very unwell. So knowing when you’ve had enough could help you avoid situations like alcohol poisoning, which could ruin your holiday.

It’s not just alcohol that can affect your health. You’ll know the advice on sun exposure, but it’s important to remember that in certain regions of the world – such as the tropics – the sun is more dangerous for a longer period of the day. It’s advisable to find out when it’s at its most intense and avoid it then.

Holidays are always something to be excited about, but you can end up in dangerous situations if you don’t pay the right degree of attention. So make sure you do your research and be careful and you’ll stay safe on your big trip.