With the number of people heading on cruise ship vacations each year exceeding one million, this is an extremely popular way to unwind. For the most part, cruise ships are very safe, but that’s not to say there aren’t any accidents. Being at sea always has the potential to be dangerous, particularly when safety protocols are not followed.
Cruise liner companies have a responsibility to implement certain safety features. Outlined below are some things that you can expect on your vacation.
Highly trained staff
While emergency situations are rare, staff must be trained for every possible scenario, including the worst case. Highly trained staff can mean the difference between someone getting seriously hurt or even killed, and managing to survive an incident. If there is a fire onboard, then staff must know what to do and how to direct passengers. If someone has fallen overboard, then the appropriate people must be alerted.
Survival crafts
For the most part, survival crafts will sit idly on the cruise ships, but they must be present. They must also be in working order. This is why routine inspections on cruise liners are so vital. A survival craft is only useful if it is operational and ready to go in case of an emergency.
Medical knowledge
Typically, cruise liners will have at least one person onboard who is a medically trained professional. This is vital because cruise liners spend much of their time out at sea, away from civilization. The nearest hospital may be several hours away. Thus, if a passenger gets into trouble, they need to receive the best possible treatment onboard the ship.
If you have been injured on a cruise liner and the company was negligent, you may be able to hold them to account. Seek legal guidance to find out more about your options.