Thursday, October 23, 2014

10/23/14: Sports Safety for Kids and Aflac Ultimate College Football Experience Sweepstakes

My son loves sports.  He has played soccer, basketball, and baseball.  Kids get involved in sports at such a young age.  My son started playing soccer at 3 years old.  Now he plays on a travel team and it is his favorite sport.  Aflac is here with a cool sweepstakes and some sports safety tips to help.
There is no secret that sports can be dangerous.  We are no strangers to accidents that can happen.  On the last basketball practice of the season he crashed in to another child while playing a game.  You wouldn't think basketball would be a full contact sport, but this day it was.  After a quick trip to the ER we realized he had broken his collar bone.
 He was devastated that he would miss his last game of the season.  We followed the directions of the doctor and he was back to his normal self in about 2 months of wearing a sling.
Make sure you are covered with supplemental insurance for accidents and unexpected illness.  Without health insurance, the average cost to treat a broken leg, for example, is over $10,0001 now just imagine a serious back injury! 
That’s where Aflac comes in ... if someone with an Aflac supplemental insurance plan experiences a serious illness or injury, Aflac helps ease the financial stress and provides cash benefits to help pay for out-of-pocket expenses. Supplemental insurance could help cover these and other expenses that may not be fully covered by your major medical insurance: Broken teeth, Concussions, Ambulance, ground and air, Emergency room visits, Lacerations For more information, visit http://www.aflac.com/individuals/default.aspx.
Football is obviously one of the sports with the most injuries.  I want to share some tips from Aflac on how to keep things as safe as possible on the football field: 
 1) Football = lots of gear! Some equipment may look “optional,” but it is important to wear all necessary pads and safety gear each time you play. If you show up for a practice or game without it, alert your coach immediately. 
 2) Follow the rules While physical prowess is central to football, you must obey the rules. In the heat of the moment it’s easy to forget, but there is a reason why things like tripping, clipping, blocking below the knees and helmet-to-helmet contact are illegal in football: they can be very dangerous to both you and your opponents. 
 3) Listen to your body If at any point you feel pain or discomfort while playing, notify your 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 the severity and keeps you out of action longer. 
4) Take the doctor’s orders After experiencing a sports injury, the first question a player often asks is, "When can I play again?" The answer depends on the injury. Always listen to your doctor. Even if you can't return right away, a doctor or physical therapist might have suggestions and advice on what you can do to stay fit and rehab the injury. It is important to always check with a doctor before attempting any activity following an injury. 
 5) Make sure you’re covered Accidents happen. When unexpected injuries happen on the football field, make sure you’re prepared with supplemental insurance to help cover out-of-pocket expenses. According to the 2014 Aflac WorkForces Report, 66 percent of U.S. workers could not afford the costs associated with a serious illness or injury. That’s why voluntary insurance plans are so important. In the event of a serious injury, they help provide peace of mind and cash benefits to help you get back in the game fast. 
Aflac has a new partnership with the Heisman Trophy and is hosting the Ultimate College Football Experience Sweepstakes.  Three prize packages will win a trip for two, a pair of tickets to one of three college football games in November, a chance to meet Desmond Howard and more.  Winners will be announced Oct. 28, Nov. 4 and Nov. 11.  Here are the Official Rules. Official Rules.  
Find Aflac On-Line:  www.aflac.com
Twitter: @AflacDuck

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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