Rock climbing has taken on new popularity in the adventurous sport arena as climbing walls have lately been added to gyms, resorts, and cruise ships. Although rock climbing was once regarded as an extreme sport, the perception has reversed in recent years with the high number of climbing walls. In fact, recent research suggests as many as nine million people enjoy some form of rock climbing each year. While climbing up a rock face strapped to a harness and ropes may look safe, the rate of injury is rather high with lower extremities (ankles, knees, feet, etc.) being the most common places of injury.
Surprisingly, women account for more than 28% of rock climbing injuries according to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. As a traveler, if you are badly injured while rock climbing, you have two concerns: how to get medical treatment as quickly as possible, and how to get transported to where you can receive medical care. For this and other high-risk sports, you should consider adventure sports coverage.
