Toronto-based adventurer Wallace Immen has travelled in 74 countries in 25 years on the road.

Wallace Immen hangs by a thread in Costa Rica.

The brochure made it sound so enticing: spend the day rafting down a scenic river in Bali.

No one explained until the bus pulled up to the edge of a sheer cliff that the Ayung river is one of the world's more challenging stretches of white water, with difficult multiple rapids recommended only for the experienced adventurer.

"Here's your paddle and a crash helmet," the guide said. And oh, by the way, before we head down the cliff you have to sign away all rights to sue us if something goes wrong.

If only I get out of this alive, what a rush. I've never tried that before. Let's do it.

It seems the further away from the security of home you are, the greater the temptation to have some crazy new experience, even though you might regret it later.

But the bigger the risk, and the more remote the locale, the bigger the chance that something could go wrong. Bungee jumping is wild enough when you do it in Canada with a licensed company, but what are the chances there are experts on hand to inspect the equipment and make sure the knot is tied correctly in New Caledonia?

The good news is that the risk of getting injured, and particularly of dying, in an organized adventure sport such as whitewater rafting or kayaking, mountain trekking or skydiving is relatively low. One study reported in 2003 by the Wilderness Medical Society estimated the incidence of injuries in these sports is much lower, hour for hour, than driving a car.

However, the risks are infinitely more unpredictable, and it is likely that the majority of extreme sport injuries are not reported to authorities. Another study by Toronto researchers that looked at 60 participants in an adventure race in Northern Ontario found more than half of them sustained injuries during the three-day event.

So before you leap, make sure it's worth the personal reward and that you've got protection, both physical and financial.

While you'll most likely get a treat rather than a trauma out of the experience, it's wise to make sure your insurance will pay for your recovery if something does go wrong. Just because we live in the land of universal medical care doesn't mean you're covered for even the cost of bandages through your provincial plan if you fall off a cliff climbing outside Canada.

According to last year's Travelers Report Card from the Canadian Snowbird Association, coverage for emergency services while traveling varies widely. While the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon will reimburse more than $1,200 a day for emergency medical care out of the country, Ontario will only cover up to $400. Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec barely gain a passing grade, covering a maximum of $100 a day for in-patient emergency services. British Columbia's $75 a day won the province a failing grade from the association.

Remember, too, that the coverage is only for the costs of care once you get to a clinic. Getting hurt while climbing in the Kootenays, or on Kilamanjaro, or bungee jumping in Borneo will require rescue services and emergency transportation. These things are technically covered under supplemental travel policies you can buy through insurance companies and travel agents.

Regular travel insurance should cover adventure activities, according to Jim Johnstone, spokesman for TIC Travel Insurance, one of the largest such insurers in Canada. Under the company's Emergency Hospital & Medical for Canadians, clients are eligible for up to $2 million in coverage for emergency hospitalization and emergency medical services in excess of their provincial or territorial plan. This includes benefits such as meals and accommodation, transportation of family or friends and even pet return, he says.

All plans are not alike, though, and every travel plan includes some restrictions and exemptions. The only way you can read all the fine type on some plans may be to actually buy a policy to see all the legal info.

For instance, International SOS, another insurance organization specializing in individual and corporate medical coverage and emergency rescue for foreign travel, lists myriad exclusions. The company's individual policies do not cover "participation in any professional, semi-professional, or interscholastic team sports, participation in contests of speed, motor sports or motor racing, including training or practice for the same." Other things not covered are skydiving, scuba or deep sea diving, snow skiing, hang gliding or parachuting.

And most policies won't pay if the person was under the influence of drugs at the time of the injury.

So prevention of injury is always the best policy. Here are some things to check out before signing up for the big adventure, and signing that waiver of your legal rights:

Are they accredited? In a number of adventure sports, such as racing or scuba diving, there are associations that set standards for equipment and the training of guides and support staff. A source of references for Canadian sports associations is www.out-there.com.

Ask pointed questions. Before you get on the rappelling line, strap into a hang glider or get tied up with bungee gear, get some clear answers on what safety precautions are being taken and whether there is regular inspection of the equipment for hazards and wear.

Use a brain bucket. While cuts, sprains and fractured bones are the most common adventure sport injuries, the most devastating by far are head injuries, which can lead to permanent disability. Studies of sport injuries all conclude with a call for using protective headgear.

Bring your own gear. If you can pack the gear you're familiar with, not only is it likely to fit you better but it may be newer and more hygienic than the helmet or face mask you're offered abroad.

Carry a cellphone. A piece of emergency equipment not available to previous generations is the portable phone. Keep a number in memory to call for emergency.

Ping your location. GPS devices are also getting inexpensive. Take one on your adventure, along with the aforementioned cellphone – it can prove invaluable in pinpointing your location for rescuers.

Carry emergency information. If you have allergies or health problems, medics where you are travelling may not be able to ask you about them. If you're in a country that speaks another language, translate the relevant medical information into the local language on a card that can be found on you easily if you wind up in an emergency.

Never go alone. If you're injured, it's important to have someone who can call for help and stay around to keep you out of further harm until the medics arrive.

Consider a group. Guided adventure tours run by international operators are generally well organized and lead by well-trained guides.

And what about my white-water adventure?

I learned this advice the hard way. It was a local operation and not certified by any organization, but I went anyway and it was like being the ball inside a pinball machine.

Of the dozen people in the group, three suffered cuts that required bandaging from the meager supply of first aid equipment available as we continually banged into rocks as we made our way down the river. And one person suffered a sprain after falling out of a raft.

These are not the kind of injuries that get reported in the safety statistics. Nor was the nagging sore arm I suffered for days, or the collection of mystery bruises that remained as souvenirs of my day on the river.

All and all, I considered it a fair tradeoff for a day of adventure. But next time I'll come better prepared and seek out a more reputable tour operator.

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