This stretch of unseasonably warm weather has many thinking about spring. With spring comes longer days, warmer temps, greener landscapes, and the infamous Spring Break! For many of us, spring break has taken on a very different meaning than it had during our college years. But even mild spring break celebrations and vacations carry some inherent risks. Read on for more information about spring break hazards, and how you can protect yourself from serious harm.
Common Spring Break Injuries and How to Prevent Them
A little R&R may be just what the doctor ordered, but the spring break-related health risks below can ruin your vacation, and could even cost you your life. A Boston injury attorney can help you determine how to proceed if you’ve been harmed by another’s negligence. By taking the following safety precautions, you can dramatically reduce your risk of serious injury and death:
- Know Where You’re At: If you’re on vacation in a remote area, or outside of the country, make sure you thoroughly research your destination. Where is the closest hospital or other medical facility? Even something as seemingly benign as food poisoning can be deadly if no doctors are nearby to treat the condition.
- Norovirus: This contagious illness contributes to more than 56,000 hospitalizations annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is commonly acquired through contaminated food, water and surfaces, and through close contact with infected people. In recent years, cruise ships have become a sort of breeding ground for norovirus. Due to their close quarters, norovirus outbreaks can spread quickly and easily on cruise ships. If you contracted norovirus due to unsanitary conditions, a Boston injury lawyer can help you determine your next steps.
- Bites: Animals and bugs, especially in tropical climates, can be deadly. Snakes, spiders, and even ordinary bees for those who are allergic, send hundreds of thousands of people to the hospital every year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 400,000 people suffer from permanent disability or disfigurement annually due to bites from wild animals.
- Food poisoning: According to the CDC, about 48 million Americans get food poisoning each year. And about 3,000 of those people die. The most common sources of food poisoning are water, beef, poultry, eggs, leafy greens, and tuna fish. Especially when you are out of the country, be very cautious about what you’re eating and the conditions of the place in which you are eating. If the establishment is extremely dirty, you might want to try another place.
- Excessive alcohol consumption and binge drinking: Although all of the above accidents injure thousands of people every year, nothing does more damage than alcohol poisoning and alcohol-related accidents, especially among the college crowd. Due to excessive alcohol consumption, thousands of people are injured or killed in car accidents, slip and fall accidents, and from alcohol poisoning each year. Know your limits, and if your college-age child is headed to a spring break celebration this season, remind them of these risks.
Altman & Altman, LLP – Boston’s Premier Personal Injury Law Firm
If you have been injured due to another’s negligence, the skilled legal team at Altman & Altman, LLP can help. We have been helping accident and injury victims obtain the compensation they deserve for more than 50 years. We will analyze the details of your case and ensure that you understand your rights and options before moving forward. Our experienced attorneys will be with you every step of the way. If you’ve been injured, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Don’t go through this difficult time alone. We can help. Contact Altman & Altman, LLP today for a free and confidential consultation about your case.