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Thursday, July 5, 2018

Hiking Safety? Madeira and Scotland and Safety Tips

Problem
Is it safe or is it dangerous? I was reading about a woman who complained about being rushed on a tour. The organizers answered that areas were cut off and the tour was re-routed because of a fatality. I then started investigating falls.

In Madeira, one person said that there were several fatalities in a year. Another commentator said that there are about 30-40 fatalalities in Scotland every year.

Safety Tips
You are told, warned, not to walk alone. But if the faster walkers charge ahead, the slower people are left behind.

Having a phone with you is a help if you are alone and fall. No help if you are in front or behind and slip and are killed instantly.

Insurance
Does your insurance cover you for the activity you planned? In the USA I found that the insurance I had would not cover the snowmobile activities.

Does your insurance cover for:
1 Medical bills and hospitals
2 Repatriation of an injured person
3 Repatriation of a dead body.

An additional cost might be accommodation for a companion if your return home is delayed.  As the saying goes, better safe than sorry.

Despite this, hiking and even bungy jumping attract tourists every year. Why climb mountains? For the fresh air. For the views. Because the exercise makes you feel fit and feel good. Because of the challenge.

As famous climber Mallory reputedly once said when asked why he climbed Everest, 'Because it's there'.

Useful Websites
Cautions and Mishaps News
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g189167-i435-k2035201-Levadas_claim_yet_another_life-Funchal_Madeira_Madeira_Islands.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/a-new-record-for-scotlands-misleading-mountains-this-year-they-claimed-54-lives-the-freedom-to-climb-1468487.html
https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/2104750/dodging-death-cristiano-ronaldos-birthplace-madeira

Safety Advice
http://www.scotland.police.uk/keep-safe/mountain-and-outdoor-safety
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/portugal
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/portugal-travel-advisory.html

Travel
visitmadeira.com
http://www.visitmadeira.pt/en-gb/useful-info/walks/notice-to-walkers-and-listof-walks 
(Ends with safety tips)
madeira-tourist.com
visitscotland.com

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, atuhro and speaker.

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