Jet skis: the undertow   by Alexandra Gubbins, http://www.youclaim.co.uk

When going on holiday to enjoy the sun, sea and sand, what could be better than having a go at some of the water sports on offer? Thousands of us do so every year and enjoy hours of fun parasailing, yachting, water skiing, and being bounced round in rubber rings that are dragged behind a speedboat.

Hurtling across the sea at high speeds is a fantastic thrill that many people, both young and old, take advantage of while they are away. Crystal clear water and blue skies make for an idyllic location in which to enjoy water sports such as jet skiing and the sheer beauty of the seas make many people relax without a care in the world.

The picture-perfect setting, however, is not quite so perfect under the surface and can lull holidaymakers into a false sense of security. Jet skis and power boats are highly dangerous pieces of machinery that are usually capable of speeds of up to 50 or 60 mph, although some can reach even higher speeds.

Most people who hire a jet ski for a short period get little training about how to control the ski, where they are allowed to go on the water, and what to do in an emergency. After a cursory glance by the hire company to check the holidaymaker looks vaguely capable and a few mumbled sentences that are supposed to suffice as a safety instruction they are off.

The holidaymaker doesn't think anything can or will go wrong on such a lovely hot sunny day so they get on the craft with perhaps a life jacket as a measure of good will. Many people will have the great time they were expecting, zooming across the waves with a trail of foam and spray behind them.

However, some people won't have such a good time. Holiday accidents on jet skis are unfortunately an all too familiar sight for some coastguards. Not all accidents are the same. Some people will have lost control of the craft and fallen into the water awkwardly, perhaps hurting their back or their neck. Others will have collided with a boat, another jet ski, or a swimmer.

The exact number of holiday accidents that happen this way each year is not published. They are a world- wide phenomenon, with deaths from jet skis reported as having happened in Cyprus, the Bahamas, Hawaii, Florida, Fiji, Phuket, California, Bali, and many more stunningly beautiful seaside resorts.

Jet ski use is not just confined to the sea. Many visitors to large lakes in America and other countries also take advantage of the fun that can be had on the agile little watercraft that run in shallow waters. Unfortunately, they also take their share of the serious personal injuries and deaths that result from jet ski holiday accidents.

Statistics from California show that jet skis account for 19% of watercraft bought but 45% of injuries that occur in the water. So how do all these incidents happen? The driver having water in his eyes for a few seconds is enough time for a speeding jet ski to cover a significant distance and strike anything in its path. This is one of the most common accident causes given since not all jet skiers use eye protection and there is so much spray flying about.

A lack of education as to how to safely operate jet skis can also be put down as one of the main reasons for these holiday accidents. Steering difficulties account for hundreds, if not thousands, of jet ski accidents each year. This is because they do not handle in the same way as other crafts as they do not have a rudder.

Power is needed in order to steer a jet ski and, in many cases, when it looks like it may be heading on a collision course, the driver may feel they should reduce the power in order that they can slow down and regain control. However, once the driver has taken their hand off the throttle, they will lose all control over their steering and cannot force the jet ski to change course.

So what is the answer to stopping the personal injuries and fatalities that jet skis produce? There are two things that combined might reduce the number of tragic holiday accidents that happen on jet skis.

The first is that the people who rent out the jet skis should inform the holidaymakers how to handle the potentially dangerous machine they are about to be travelling at high speeds on. The second is that the holidaymakers listen.

About the Author

Editorial notes: YouClaim are the leading online personal injury compensation claim people with a 97% claim success rate. Call 0800 10 757 95 or visit http://www.youclaim.co.uk for more details.