Having Fun and Staying Safe Over the Summer @AflacDuck #summersafety #ad

Summertime to us means a lot of outside fun, running around here and there and soaking up as much Chicago sun as we can. We spend a lot of time outside exploring which leaves us open to the world – which with kids can mean accidents.  From scrapes and cuts to more serious boo boos like breaking an arm or leg, summertime fun can be a gamble especially if you don’t have insurance. I worry all the time about my kids hurting themselves but in the summer they seem to really push my limits!

Last summer, my daughter required stitches for jumping on the bed in a hotel room and my youngest son had a nasty earache. Thankfully we had insurance to cover both incidents. Last year was the first year my kids could all really do a lot, since my youngest had just turned 3 years old, so I started to make a summertime checklist for us to make the most out of our time. It is important to be ready for anything, especially when kids are involved.

Our Summertime Checklist:

• Keep a bag of summer essentials in the car or front hallway ready to go. The bad should include sunscreen, bug spray, hats, sunglasses, and whatever else your kids need daily for outside.

• Always pack snacks. Even if we are going on a short trip to the grocery store I always pack snacks because my kids are always hungry whenever we head out but never hungry when I ask them for a snack!

• Keep a first aid kit in the car. I picked up one that was fully stocked from our local drugstore but you could also make your own.

• Always have your insurance card on you. Whenever we had an emergency, the first thing I am asked is whether we have insurance. Now I am sure I could pull it up online or have someone grab it from my house, but having it on hand is a lot easier. This is important especially if your out of time.

• Plan lots of fun activities that you don’t get to do during the school year but don’t forget to have downtime too! Sometimes I plan stuff for everyday of the week and my poor kids are wiped out from the “fun” I had planned everyday!

Some of the summer fun we have had so far that I have to hold my breath!

Luckily he is not tall enough yet:

Speaking of insurance, did you now that Aflac insurance policies have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, rather than financial stress, for six decades now? They actually provide individual and group voluntary insurance products to more than 50 million people worldwide. Aflac’s voluntary products, which supplement major medical plans, are designed to actually pay policyholders directly for their costs associated with a covered serious illness, injury or loss. The cash benefits can also be used for rent, gas, groceries, child care or any other out-of-pocket expense a worker may incur. Yes just like the Aflac duck says!

Why would you want supplemental insurance?

Supplemental insurance pay cash benefits that can be used for everyday living expenses, rather than just your medical expenses. The policies help workers from high out-of-pocket costs that major medical insurance was never designed to cover. This is something great for parents to do for themselves since we have enough to worry about! Accidents are accidents for a reason and anything you can do to prepare ahead of time will save a lot of headaches in the long run. Even the most minor of accidents can lead to an inability to pay normal living expenses – According to the National Safety Council, the total cost of unintentional injuries in 2011 was $753 billion!

Something really cool too is Aflac has introduced the One Day Pay Initiative, which means Aflac U.S. can receive process, approve and disburse payment for eligible claims in one business day. Again something to save headaches in the long run!

Aflac is available in all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

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