My children enjoy playing sports and as a rule our kids have to participate in one activity per season (most seasons). They are young, 6,4 and 1 and so our schedule isn’t quite as hectic now but when they are older who knows how busy we’ll be. There’s always concern for injury no matter what season we are in however the summer months are full of physial activities that can be dangerous. Did you know more than 2.6 million children 0-19 years old are treated in the emergency department each year for sports and recreation-related injuries? According to the CDC, accidents are more common than you think!
My daughter loves going to the pool. She must be part mermaid. She was too young for swim team this year but next Spring she wants to sign up. She loves using her Puddle Jumper to venture out to the (not so) deep end.
There’s my oldest playing baseball. He’s a good little first baseman and we’ll have a lot of fun in the coming years. During games they are required to have their hats on and my son wears sunglasses and sometimes eye black. He has very very sensitive blue eyes.
Keeping my kids safe is a priority. Here are a few summer safety tips from Jennie Finch, USA Olympic gold and silver softball team member, offers summer safety tips to keep your children safe 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.
During baseball season this is important. Parents and children need to be aware of their surroundings to prevent being hit by pop up and foul balls from other fields. Going to the pool today? Apply sunscreen! Or use floaties if your kids can’t reach the bottom of the pool.
- 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.
The boys always warm up before a big game and there’s plenty of water for them to drink too.
- 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.
We always look for sign of exhaustion. I know my kids and when they need to rest however teaching them they need to rest or sit out to recover is easier said than done.
- TIP 4: Make sure your family is covered. It’s a parent’s job to make sure their family is protected. That’s where 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.
What injury prevention tips do you have for the summer?
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Leave a Reply