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Every year, thousands of holidaymakers jet off to sun themselves in foreign climes, setting sail for passion and adventure on the high seas or simply jumping into their cars and exploring the treasures of their homeland. The school holidays are upon us, the most popular time for holidaying and consequently the time when the influx of holiday accident claims reaches its peak. However, there are a few simple accident prevention methods you can employ to protect yourself this summer.
If you are anything like me you will pack more medicines than the proverbial travelling doctor from yesteryear but my motto is better to be safe than sorry, even if this does mean paying a supplement for my overly heavy suitcase stuffed with ibuprofen, antiseptic creams, plasters and indigestion aids!
But what many of us don't take advantage of is what grows naturally all around us. Nature is blossoming with organic methods of first aid, after all our modern day medicines did originate from somewhere. These are especially useful if you are involved in a sudden holiday accident that results in minor personal injury and it is a long bus ride to the nearest chemist.
Rashes and sunburns
This is one of the most common personal injuries to be experienced on holiday. As soon as we hear the word "sun" we are already scrabbling for bikinis, sarongs and flip flops and making a beeline for the beach but thousands of us are still neglecting to protect our skin.
It is not likely that many of us would launch our bodies into vats of boiling water of jump into a flame-ridden room so why do so many allow their skin to be exposed to the sun's harmful rays? Sunburn should not be taken lightly, it is a burn injury to the living tissue caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun's rays. Sunburn not only causes the skin to turn red, hot and very sore but it can also lead to fatigue and dizziness.
Excessive exposure to the sun can also lead to skin cancer, the rates of which have quadrupled for men and tripled for women in the past 25 years. Over 8,000 cases of the most dangerous form, malignant melanoma, are diagnosed in the UK every year and, unfortunately, 2,000 of these result in fatalities.
While there is no one to make a compensation claim against in the event that you sustain sunburn, unless you are eligible for a product liability case from faulty sun cream or UV protective clothing, there are plenty of natural treatments you can choose from.
For example, apply pure aloe vera gel to the affected area, add two cups of apple cider vinegar or a cup of oatmeal to your bathwater or cut and mash up cucumbers for cooling relief.
Heat exhaustion
Spending too much time in the sun cannot only take its toll on your skin but also greatly affect your body's functionality.
The first sign that you have heat exhaustion is usually a spell of dizziness or if you stop sweating. At this stage you should stop all activity and get into the shade and out of the sun. You should also drink cool, but not cold, water with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to help replace electrolytes and minerals or a peppermint tea, which will have a natural cooling effect on your overheated body.
If possible, take a cool bath or shower to help regain a normal body temperature. Don't use cold water as this will cool you down too fast and could stop your heart.
Insect repellent and bite treatment
Being out and about all day then taking walks by the river and eating al fresco in the evening can make you an easy target for insects such as mosquitoes.
It is wise to try and repel insects before they have a chance to attack. Mosquitoes, especially, don't like the scent given off by basil, lavender or citronella so oils can be applied to the skin and candles lit when sitting out of doors. Taking garlic capsules and vitamin B complex supplements daily can also help. Following a mosquito bite, the skin should be soaked in salt water or have toothpaste applied to it.
Some people have terrible reactions to bee and wasp stings and can suffer serious swelling and while you could not claim personal injury compensation for these, you could ease your suffering with the following. Wasp stings should be rubbed with onion juice or vinegar to counteract the alkaline venom whereas ant bites and bee stings should have a paste of baking soda and very cold water rubbed on them to counteract their acidity.
Bruises, wounds and muscle sprains
Slips, trips and falls in hotel foyers, dining areas and around the pool are fairly common holiday accidents for which no win, no fee compensation claims are made. These are often down to negligent hotel operatives who take a laid back approach to the health and safety of their guests.
However, if you were to have a minor slip, trip and fall holiday accident then you could benefit from a bit of natural treatment. Applying honey to an open wound acts as a natural antibiotic and sterilises the affected are.
For bruises, fennel or hyssop leaves used in a compress can help reduce swelling or distilled witch hazel can be applied directly with cotton wool. Comfrey can also be used to sooth wounds and bruises but should be avoided by pregnant women.
After straining a muscle, try adding 10 to 15 drops of rosemary oil or no more than a teaspoon of grated ginger to bathwater and taking a long soak.
YouClaim advises that wherever you decide to venture to this summer, make sure you are fully prepared with your natural first aid kit in case of holiday accidents.
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