Catch the Wave, but Be Careful

WHY

They say it feels like floating in zero gravity.

WHERE

Wherever there is clear water and an undersea world to explore. Btw, 97% of the creatures on Earth live under water: from the Norwegian fjords to the Australian Great Barrier Reef. Almost all the countries of South-East Asia, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia.

The Caribbean and Latin America, such as Cuba, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico. European countries, such as Spain, Malta, Greece, Croatia, Austrian Lakes, Norway. South Africa, Australia, Maldives, India, Ecuador, Egypt.

Risks of Injuries

Decompression illness (DCI)/caisson disease, different types of barotraumas.

Pay Attention To

There are several medical risks. You may be very far from any source of medical attention. There may be very few paramedics who can help non-professional divers immediately.

From the edge of a pool, a dive tower, a ship, or high diving and cliff jumping

WHY

New experiences, adrenaline rush. And, well, because girls love it! You can also perform a number of acrobatics.

WHERE

Wherever there is a body of water: swimming pools with or without a dive tower, a ship on the open sea or the cliffs.

Risks of Injuries

Waters with rapids or intense waves, which may contain dangerous objects underneath the surface, invisible to the eye. Wrist, elbow, shoulder and back injuries, corneal injury and perforated eardrum, concussion or disorientation, severe injuries (fractures, including vertebral fractures).

Pay Attention To

You may be far from any source of medical attention. There may be very few paramedics who can help non-professional jumpers immediately.

Including Cross Country Biking, Uphill and Downhill Biking, Freeride Biking, North Shore Biking, etc., for those who are really into extreme sports.

WHY

Well, you have a cool mountain bike and a perfect outfit for riding: a cycling suit and gloves, wrist guards, a good helmet, and you are eager to conquer the road and get the adrenaline rush.

WHERE

Wherever there are mountains: Ukraine, Turkey, Greece, Germany, Austria, France. Risks of Injuries Shoulder injuries (dislocations and fractures), tendon tears, ankle and wrist injuries (ligament injuries and fractures).

Pay Attention To

Doctors always say, protecting the biker’s skull is the most important thing, but so are other parts of the body. So a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads are of utmost importance. Very few paramedics can help professional bikers immediately, so this gear can prevent or lessen injury.

WHY

They say it’s a certain state of mind. Not to mention that it’s beautiful!

Surfing is a the perfect cardio exercise because it reduces stress levels, improves coordination, increases endurance and improves concentration.

WHERE

Almost anywhere with more or less stable wind and a decent body of water — a lake, a river, a channel or a sea.

Ukraine, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, France, Spain, Italy. In Italy, for instance, you can surf in the Adriatic, Ionian, Mediterranean and Tyrrhenian seas, in Sicily, Sardinia, Capri, Elba islands and even on fresh-water Lake Garda. The next destinations are Vietnam, the Philippines, Canaries, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Venezuela, Morocco.

Consider more exotic locations, such as Aruba Island, Mauritius Island, Sri Lanka, Zanzibar, Australia and also the island of Maui (Hawaii), the homeland of windsurfing.

Risks of Injuries

Surfers can be easily swept out to sea. You may face tissue tears (cuts, scratches, abrasions), head injuries, concussions or disorientation, , fractured neck vertebrae and facial bones, or broken teeth.

Pay Attention To

For a well-trained and safety conscious windsurfer, the risk of injury compared to other sports is relatively low.

Familiarize yourself with the hazards of the environment before you windsurf, such as water currents, obstacles and local marine life.

Wear appropriate protective equipment, such as a helmet, wet or dry suit, personal flotation device (PFD), gloves, special sunglasses and rubber-soled slippers.

WHY

Kitesurfing lets you maneuver and delivers a euphoric, zero-gravity feeling and a huge adrenaline rush. Travelling to the most exotic spots on our planet, seeking out the waves, and riding the wind is the best way to beat depression and boredom.

Kitesurfing also improves concentration, coordination and endurance.

WHERE

Wherever there is a stable wind, a large open body of water, and a convenient place to take off from and land a kite. The most popular kiting spots are Egypt, Greece, Spain, Vietnam, Morocco, the Philippines, Dominican Republic, Zanzibar, Thailand and many other countries with warm beaches.

Risks of Injuries

You can entangle yourself in the strings of a fallen kite. You can be swept away into the open sea. You can bump up against someone else’s kite.

Minimal injuries you may get are scraped arms and legs, but be aware of injuring your feet, knees and ankles; back strains and sprains due to the kite’s excessive lifting force; head injuries and upper limb injuries (shoulder joint dislocations, strains).

Pay Attention To

Protection against overexposure to the sun among kitesurfers in the tropics is crucial. We are currently working on increasing awareness about the sun risk among kitesurfers and beachgoers in Martinique Island. The best strategies for vacationers, especially in tropical maritime environments, is the use of a high SPF sunscreen, headwear, and anti-UV glasses.

WHY

There is no greater adrenaline rush than river rafting. You get to see the most picturesque parts of nature, inaccessible for ordinary tourists.

WHERE

Wherever there are rivers with rapids, of varying levels of intensity, shallow waters and waterfalls. Those rivers usually flow in mountainous areas or on very rocky terrains.

Ideal destinations are the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Georgia, Ukraine, Italy, Montenegro. Rafting on the rivers of China, Thailand, Nepal and India is extremely popular in Asian countries.

The best rafting is said to be in North America, in the mountains of Canada and Alaska, and rafting on the Colorado River or the Grand Canyon River.

Risks of Injuries

You can get different kinds of injuries while floating down a mountain river and can suffer hypothermia due to glacial water in mountain rivers. As mountain rivers are commonly far away from civilization, there is a risk of absence of communication with rescue services and urgent medical care. All these risks must be considered when planning a river rafting trip.

Pay Attention To

Rafting routes are classified on a six-point scale, reflecting the level of difficulty and danger from 1 to 6. It is quite safe to take a route not exceeding 2 points, but prepare yourself for the higher-intensity routes.