My poor little guy. He definitely inherited my grace - or should I say lack thereof? While I'm constantly walking into things and tripping over my own two feet, he's a bit more rambunctious and so his injuries are always a little more adventurous.
Accidents happen. You can't predict them, nor can you always prevent them. A couple of months ago, for example, we were all outside playing - Kaya on her scooter and Sammy on his balance bike. Just up and down the sidewalk, with me standing right there with them.
Kaya decides she wants to be a big girl and started running toward the road. Scared to death, I ran and scooped her up - only to be startled by a scream from Sammy. I turned around as fast as I could but didn't see him anywhere. Running toward the driveway, I realized he had ridden his bike off of the hill and over the wall and landed in the driveway.
When I asked him how he fell, he said he was trying to pet the cat with his bike. Boys, amiright?
One thing all parents have in common is the goal of keeping their kids safe – especially over the summer when they’re constantly outdoors, playing summer sports and more. Here are a few summer safety tips from Jennie Finch, USA Olympic gold and silver softball team member, to help make sure your kids aren’t sidelined by injuries this summer:
- TIP 1: Use appropriate gear. For parents who have young children playing, the most important thing to have is the proper equipment. Some equipment may look “optional,” but it is important to wear all necessary pads and safety gear each time you play a physical sport.
- TIP 2: Preparation is important. Kids should be adequately prepared with warmups and training sessions before practices and before games. They may want to go 100 percent as soon as they step onto the field, but they need to remember to progress up to their top speed. This will help ensure that they have fun and reduce the chances of an injury. They also should drink plenty of fluids and be allowed periods of rest during practices and games.
- TIP 3: Listen to your body. Teach your children that if at any point they feel pain or discomfort while playing, they should notify their coach and get out of the game. While sitting on the sidelines is one of the most difficult situations a player can face, pushing through injuries increases their severity and keeps you out of action longer.
- TIP 4: Make sure your family is covered. It’s a parent’s job to make sure their family is protected. That’s where my friends at Aflac come in: If an athlete with their supplemental accident insurance plan experiences a serious injury, Aflac can help provide peace of mind and cash benefits to help you and your family get back in the game fast. With Aflac’s new One Day PaySM promise, accident claims can even be processed in just ONE DAY.
Accidents happen. When unexpected injuries happen, make sure you’re prepared with supplemental insurance like Aflac’s accident policy to help cover out-of-pocket expenses. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 2.6 million children 0-19 years old are treated in the emergency department each year for sports and recreation-related injuries.
Active families should consider learning more about accident insurance.
Aflac’s accident insurance is offered through a direct basis and through company benefits programs.
While families usually cannot purchase accident insurance until their company offers open enrollment each fall, it is important to understand what accident insurance is and how it can help keep your family’s finances protected prior to selecting next year’s benefits.
Accident insurance helps families stay ahead of the medical and out-of-pocket expenses that add up quickly after an injury, so they can focus on recovery – not finances.
Cash benefits can be used to help cover emergency treatment, hospital stays and medical exams but also for other expenses families may face, such as transportation costs, lodging needs and daily living expenses like groceries or monthly bills.
Accident insurance may be particularly important to families who generally do not meet their major medical deductibles since benefits can be used to help pay out-of-pocket medical costs, including deductibles and copayments.
Aflac will be introducing a new accident plan that includes a benefit for injuries sustained while playing an organized sport. This summer, in advance of open enrollment, take some time to look at what insurance is offered by your employer to be sure you have the right coverage for your family.
Aflac’s accident insurance is offered through a direct basis and through company benefits programs.
While families usually cannot purchase accident insurance until their company offers open enrollment each fall, it is important to understand what accident insurance is and how it can help keep your family’s finances protected prior to selecting next year’s benefits.
Accident insurance helps families stay ahead of the medical and out-of-pocket expenses that add up quickly after an injury, so they can focus on recovery – not finances.
Cash benefits can be used to help cover emergency treatment, hospital stays and medical exams but also for other expenses families may face, such as transportation costs, lodging needs and daily living expenses like groceries or monthly bills.
Accident insurance may be particularly important to families who generally do not meet their major medical deductibles since benefits can be used to help pay out-of-pocket medical costs, including deductibles and copayments.
Aflac will be introducing a new accident plan that includes a benefit for injuries sustained while playing an organized sport. This summer, in advance of open enrollment, take some time to look at what insurance is offered by your employer to be sure you have the right coverage for your family.
How are you preparing for accidents this summer?
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