Stretching your comfort zone is part of the adventure, but it’s crucial to balance your risks and abilities.

Ah, the freedom of travel. Life is different when you’re far from the shackles of everyday life. Vacationing offers carefree opportunities to do what you want, how you want. Zooming along on a scooter with the wind in your hair, taking a dip in an isolated waterfall, hiking through stunning scenery… Anything’s possible.

But don’t assume that all of this is safe. Living in Canada, we’re used to laws and regulations that ensure a basic standard of protection. Stay in a hotel here, and you can be confident that it meets the fire code. Kayak with a licensed tour company here, and instructors will make certain you do so with a life jacket. Like it or not, Big Brother is looking out for you.

However, when you’re abroad, you must look out for yourself. Granted, there is a danger in getting too uptight and letting fear inhibit your adventures, but don’t leave your common sense at home. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.

Consider helmets, for example. In many countries, laws for wearing one while riding a motorbike or scooter are not enforced. Locals zip by bareheaded, or with helmets hanging like hoods down their backs. But according to a World Health Organization publication called International Travel and Health (www.who.int/ith/en/), “traffic collisions are the most frequent cause of death among travellers” worldwide. So if you wouldn’t ride a motorcycle without a helmet at home, don’t do it abroad.

Sometimes it’s the unknown dangers that can hurt you, so reading up on your destination can help. For example, the Lonely Planet travellers’ forum section on Laos (www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/) has a sobering post from a British mother whose daughter, Mia-Lucy Rose, was swept away by a current and died while swimming in a Laotian waterfall in 2004. “There were several people swimming in the same pool as Mia,” Pauline Rose writes. “There are no danger or warning signs about the water and this island is very popular with travellers.” Rose writes that her daughter was “the fourth person to die in this way at the same spot”.

This highlights an important point: the fact that other tourists do something doesn’t make it safe. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s publication Out on a Limb: Advice for the Adventure Traveller (www.voyage.gc.ca/main/pubs/out_limb-en.asp) outlines common fallacies such as “It’s safe because I’ll have a tour guide” and “It’s safe because I’ll be part of a group.” It points out that guides can’t control all situations. Research the company you plan to travel with, and buy appropriate travel medical and evacuation insurance. “Never yield to others the responsibility for your own safety,” it advises.

Accurately assessing your own abilities is crucial too. Are you fit enough to keep up with that hiking group? You may be a certified scuba diver, but how rusty are your skills? Don’t assume that somebody else will be looking out for you. If you’re with a large group, you may not get the attention you need.

Greg Kocher, owner of the Diving Locker (2745 West 4th Avenue), told the Straight by phone that people “go on vacation as certified divers, but haven’t done it for years”. He suggests they take a refresher course before their holiday so they can literally dive right in. Kocher also advises that divers check to see how long the dive shop they intend to use has been in business, and whether it’s certified by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).