Football Safety Tips

If your kids play sports, injuries are going to happen. But what’s scary is when you don’t know that your child is injured.

Last spring, a friend’s son was playing basketball. Somewhere along the way, he was bopped in the head by a basketball. He shook it off, continued to play the game and went home afterward. The next day, he developed an ongoing headache that persisted over the next several days and also felt nauseous. The symptoms seemed like he was coming down with something — perhaps the flu? After several days, they took him to the doctor only to discover that he had a minor concussion!

Injuries aren’t always obvious. As parents, we can only do our best in trying to notice changes in our kids to tell if something is wrong. My friends were smart enough to know that something seemed off and to get him checked out by his doctor.

Football Safety Tips

Now think about the type of injuries that can occur in contact sports such as football. Since football is such a demanding and physical sport, injuries can be common and sometimes serious enough to lead to a trip to the emergency room. However, it doesn’t have to be that way! To help your children learn how to keep things as safe as possible on the football field, follow these football safety tips from Aflac.

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.

Accidents happen. When a covered accident happens, supplemental accident insurance pays the policyholder cash benefits for the unexpected medical and everyday expenses that begin to add up almost immediately. When unexpected illness or injuries DO happen, make sure you’re prepared with supplemental insurance. 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

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