Planning your Will may be the last thing on your mind as you’re packing your shorts and sun cream, but accidents and injuries happen when we least expect them. Of course, the chances of dying or sustaining a severe injury on holiday are slim, but if you have a Will in place it’s one less thing to worry about as you head off for your break.
The risks vary depending on where you’re travelling to. According to the latest information from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) there were just over 3,600 reported deaths of British nationals abroad in the year 2014/2015. Spain, Thailand and France recorded the highest number of fatalities. The FCO also recorded over 3,300 reported hospitalisations. In both cases, the numbers reflect occasions where the foreign office gave assistance, so the totals for both sets are likely to be higher.
If you’re travelling abroad, it’s far less likely that you will be struck down by an infectious disease. The greatest risk for most travellers according to the World Health Organisation is road traffic accidents. Even more so if you’re travelling to a lower income country, where typically road laws are a little more relaxed. Add to that, that as a driver you may be driving a vehicle you are unused to, the steering wheel may be in a different place – you may be adapting to driving on the right-hand side of the road and navigating signs in a different language.
The other high risks are associated with violence and water activities. According to the Swimming Teachers’ Association, a Briton is 5.5 times more likely to drown abroad than in the UK. In the decade up to 2010, 784 Britons drowned abroad, the majority of whom were adults.
Once you have a Will in place, make sure it’s stored in a way that’s easy for your executor to find. The company that writes your Will may be able to do this for you.
Holidays are a time to relax and spend time with the people you love. Setting up things such as Wills and travel insurance means you can sit back and enjoy yourself in the knowledge that if something does go wrong, your family will be taken care of.