The most common summer personal accidents in South Africa

There's nothing quite like a South African summer, with its balmy weather, sunny skies and fresh breezes. It's a time to hit the beach or pool and enjoy a beer and braai with friends, knowing that all too soon, the sun will start setting earlier in the evening as the cooler seasons make their presence felt.

It's a natural consequence of this period that more accidents happen — after all, most of us tend to spend time outside being active while the weather allows it. It means that you or a loved one could have an accident — but how much this impacts your life going forward will depend on whether you have personal accident cover or not. Keep reading to find out what accidents you could encounter during summer and how Auto & General’s personal accident insurance can offer you much-needed financial protection should one occur.

Falls and fractures

According to a 2021 South African Medical Research Council national study, injuries of all types account for almost a tenth of all causes of death reported in the country. An even more significant percentage is likely accountable for injuries that people survive but that impact their quality of life going forward. Some of these are caused by falls and fractures. These can be caused by anything from a slippery kitchen floor to uneven outdoor terrain. Many people underestimate the effect of an accident until it happens to them.

Jerome is an avid cyclist and loves taking his bicycle out on camps so he can explore his surroundings. One day he loses control of his bike and falls over during a turn, fracturing his wrist. Jerome is young and healthy, so he assumes that he'll be back to normal in no time. Unfortunately, as the fracture impacts a joint, he is left with long-term osteoarthritis, preventing him from moving his hand without pain. It will take surgery and a long rehabilitation period to recover, and while medical aid or medical gap cover will cover most of this, it won't cover the loss of income he experiences as he can no longer do freelance design work. Personal accident cover can be a lifesaver in circumstances such as this.

It’s common sense to take precautions, such as wearing protective gear, but you need the backup of insurance too.

Sunburn and heat exhaustion

The South African sun is no joke, and even born and bred locals can find themselves impacted by rising temperatures and scorching rays. When you are used to the weather it's easy to overestimate your ability to withstand it, leading to painful sunburn, heat stroke or dehydration.

Leslie is a busy mom and regularly attends her kids' sports events. She also volunteers to help prepare meals and offers general assistance during the events. Things can get so busy that Leslie forgets to stay hydrated or apply sunscreen. Once she gets home and the adrenaline wears off, she finds herself with serious sunburn and dehydration — serious enough that her husband takes her to the hospital where she stays overnight for observation.

While this type of injury is easy enough to prevent by drinking water, applying sunscreen regularly and wearing hats and sun visors — it can still happen and even land you in the hospital.

Burns 

Burns are incredibly painful and their damage isn't always visible to the naked eye. It's something that can happen during simple everyday tasks like cooking on a hot stove or more risky behaviour like lighting fireworks. No matter how it takes place, it could have you needing hospitalisation insurance.

Rob is the father of two young children. He and his family go on holiday to the coast. One morning he decides to take the children down to the beach for some before-breakfast fun, leaving his wife to enjoy another hour's sleep.

Unknown to Rob and the children a group of people had made a campfire on the beach the previous night and when it was time for them to leave, they'd covered it with sand to prevent it from flaring up and causing a problem. Unfortunately, Rob's children take off their shoes as soon as they get to the beach and run across the covered embers, severely burning the soles of their feet. Rob rushes them to the Emergency Room at the nearest hospital and they undergo treatment for their injuries. Personal accident insurance will cover such treatment.

Sports injuries

South Africans love sports and some of our most popular ones involve contact and speed — creating the perfect opportunity for accidental injury. Rugby, soccer and netball can all result in falls, collisions and more. While most of these will be minor, some can be a bit more serious. And even though most accidents can be prevented by following the rules of the game and wearing protective equipment, people don't always follow these rules in social settings.

Thabo meets with work colleagues after work to play a casual game of touch rugby. An accidental collision has him hit his head hard on the ground. Although he feels fine, his teammates take him to the hospital, where he's forced to spend a few days over concerns that he has a mild brain injury.

Water-related accidents

Did you know that an adult weighing roughly 63 kilograms can drown after inhaling only a quarter cup of water — and that you can drown hours after the inhalation takes place? Drowning accidents can take place in the ocean, a river, a dam or a swimming pool and are therefore much more frequent during summer.

While this can happen to adults, it can also easily happen to children who may not have had swimming lessons yet and may not be able to respond appropriately in an accidental drowning situation.

Kelsie takes her five-year-old daughter to a birthday party at a home with a pool. Although the pool is locked with a gate and the children are warned away from it, a few of them manage to sneak in and Keslie's daughter soon finds herself struggling to stay afloat in the deep end. Thankfully, another child finds an adult who quickly rescues her. This story has a happy ending, but could easily have had a tragic one. Should the unthinkable happen, it means that Kelsie’s family could be faced with medical bills and worse. They would definitely benefit from personal accident insurance cover or accidental disability coverage.

In summer many South Africans head to the beach on holiday or for a day excursion. It is essential that people take sensible precautions when at the beach or in the ocean. Swim only between the flags at a beach patrolled by lifeguards. Be aware of currents and riptides and what to do if caught in them. Never dive into shallow water. If you go diving or surfing have a buddy with you. Realising potential dangers and taking sensible steps to avoid them is the wise thing to do, however, sometimes there is an unforeseen occurrence, such as a freak wave sweeping someone out to sea. In such situations, personal accident insurance can be invaluable.

Get employees covered by a good commercial vehicle insurance

The above scenarios are fairly common, but could easily have more tragic endings than the ones outlined. Personal accident insurance can include accidental death cover and disability cover that covers your costs in such situations, whether you are dealing with accidental death, dismemberment or disability. It can also help you stay afloat through any medical expenses or loss of income you or a loved one may face. As with all insurance products, make sure you know the terms and conditions of your personal accident insurance policy to understand what is and isn't covered. If you want to know more about this insurance or feel that your current insurer isn't offering you sufficient coverage, request a quote from Auto & General today.