Sun, Sea And Personal Safety

PR Log (Press Release) – Aug 11, 2009 – The research suggests that for both men and women, fears about their safety on foreign holidays are a significant problem affecting 40% of men and 46% of women.  This shows a significant increase compared to perceptions of vulnerability at home, where 29% of men and 31% of women report concerns when travelling for work or leisure.

Stephen Ebbett of Protectyourbubble.com believes this heightened sense of anxiety is a classic case of fear of the unknown: “Despite more of us being seasoned travellers than ever before, being in a foreign country still makes us more aware of our personal safety. The language barrier is a big factor and we’re more inclined to carry cash and valuables with us rather than leave them in the hotel.”

“Jo Walker of personal safety charity, Suzy Lamplugh Trust said: “It is not inherently more risky to travel abroad than stay in the UK – if you have the right information about your destination, such as the safest forms of transport, which areas to avoid and so on.  People need to make a conscious decision before going on holiday that they are going to take sensible precautions to protect their safety wherever they are, and they need to ensure that too much sun, sea, sand – or alcohol - doesn’t affect that decision when they get there.”

The research also found that perceptions of personal safety at home don’t necessarily reflect reality.  Just over one in ten of the respondents had been victim of a mugging, and the likelihood was shown to be twice as high for men as for women.  The most at risk age group was found to be 25 – 34 yr olds, yet when asked who they believed to be most vulnerable, over 40% of those questioned said pensioners.

Stephen Ebbett again: “It is important for people to try and make a realistic assessment of risk and take sensible precautions with regard to their personal safety whether at home or away.”

Protectyourbubble.com is an ethical insurer that provides policies designed to look after individual lifestyles. Its personal emergency cover provides insurance for personal possessions while out and about plus a service that will get someone home, contact friends and family, and cancel plastic cards and mobile phones. If outside the UK it can provide advice on flight details and arrange for car hire if necessary.    Policies cost from as little as £5 a month.

For more information on staying safe abroad go to www.suzylamplugh.org

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