A moment of distraction or carelessness causes many of the types of injuries that travelers experience outside their home countries. Stepping out into a road without checking for traffic, tripping over curbs, or momentarily forgetting about “safe” food guidelines all contribute to accidents and illness. So it should come as no surprise that the phenomenon of people taking photos of themselves, or “selfies,” has led to serious injuries requiring long-distance medical transport. Accidents and deaths related to selfies have been the subject of several research studies, and have led many in the medical community to issue warnings for travelers.
Consider this information from the Journal of Travel Medicine, as well as from a Carnegie Mellon University study about self-photography injuries:
- In a 29-month span, 127 people died while taking photos of themselves in dangerous or exotic locations.
- Wild animal attacks while people were taking selfies were numerous and varied, and included bison attacks at Yellowstone National Park, bear attacks in California, and bull attacks during the Running of the Bulls festival in Pamplona, Spain.
- In addition to animal attacks, “selfie-related traumatic risks” included falls from bridges, lightning strikes, muggings, pedestrian injuries, sporting-event injuries and being hit with selfie sticks.
The study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon quoted a newspaper article that claimed there were more deaths caused by selfie accidents in 2015 than by shark attacks.
Selfie accidents are so common in Russia that government officials have released a guide to prevent selfie accidents, and more than a dozen zones in Mumbai, India, have been declared selfie-free.
Preventing Selfie Accidents – and the Need for Related Long-Distance Medical Transport
The Carnegie Mellon and Journal of Travel Medicine studies conclude that travel medicine physicians should regularly talk to their patients about the risks of selfie photography. The Journal of Travel Medicine also recommends that doctors include information about safe self-photography practices in materials they provide to patients before traveling.
Both studies state that reminding travelers to always be aware of and alert to their surroundings – including through signs and warnings – is one of the most effective tools to prevent selfie injuries. It’s also a travel tip that pre-dates selfies and cell-phone photography.
Other common-sense actions that travelers can take to avoid selfie injuries include heeding posted warnings about dangers in an area; respecting barriers and railings and staying back from dangerous drop-offs; and refraining from taking photos while operating a vehicle, walking or climbing.
Long-Distance Medical Transport Services from SentinelMED
Selfie-related accidents can range from sprained ankles to more serious injuries that may require long-distance medical transport. Before taking any trip overseas, it’s worth travelers’ time to identify a medical transport service that can provide emergency transportation in the event of a serious accident or illness. Long-distance medical transport services, such as SentinelMED work with travelers and their families to arrange travel to the nearest medical facility that can provide the required level of care. In some cases, this may mean returning a patient to the United States or to his or her hometown.
SentinelMED provides domestic and international medical transport and medical repatriation services for travelers who have serious or complicated medical concerns. SentinelMED can also arrange for medical escorts to accompany travelers and help them navigate the complexities of long-distance travel. These services can benefit travelers who suffer a serious injury or illness while far from home, as well as older adults and others who need assistance when traveling. The SentinelMED team can arrange door-to-door transportation that provides safety, comfort and peace of mind.
The SentinelMED team understands the complexity of delivering exceptional care to patients who need assistance during travel. Please contact us to learn more about the services that SentinelMED offers or its staff.
