Extreme travel medicine

Extreme travel may be defined as participating in high-risk sports activities in a remote destination. These destinations may either be in developing countries or in the wilderness of a developed country as well. Extreme sports encompass a variety of activities. For travellers journeying to the mountains, it could be backcountry snow skiing or mountaineering; for those travelling to the seaside, it may be scuba diving, open-water sailing or white water rafting; but other extreme activities, such as sky diving, hang gliding, spelunking, abseiling or bungee jumping, have also been popular among international travellers. The goal of an extreme medicine specialist is not just to provide their patients with advice on how to deal with the possible health problems that may occur during travel, but also to discuss all the potential risk factors they may encounter. Extreme travellers must remember that even the best insurance coverage and the highest quality equipment cannot be a substitute for wisdom and caution. Rescue insurance coverage offers a false sense of security, yet, in the case of an emergency, it will not save a traveller’s life. For those unfamiliar with extreme sports, the best advice is not to engage in any activities which are beyond their skills and abilities.