Summertime Safety:
Avoiding Sprains & Strains

By Mike Fish, July 2012

For many of us, summer is a time for sun, sand and sports. Unfortunately, it’s also a season of sprains and strains.

June, July and August are the months with the highest number of accidental injuries, according to a review of The Hartford’s disability claims data from 2009-2011. More than a third of those accidental injuries in the summer months are related to sprains and strains.

What’s more, many of these injuries sideline people for most of the season. The average length of time for an accidental injury in summer months was around 48 days, according to our claims data from 2009-2011.

Ouch! No one wants to skip summer. With that in mind, here are three safety tips:

• Get in gear – Put on protective gear before you get in the game. Don’t forget to wear appropriate shoes. Fractures to the lower limbs accounted for approximately 22 percent of The Hartford’s summer disability claims from 2009-2011.
• Stop the drop – Falls are one of the leading causes of unintentional injuries in the United States, according to the National Safety Council’s 2011 Injury Fact Sheet. Remove trip hazards, like small rugs around your house. You’ll find more safety tips on the National Safety Council’s website here.
• Pull over – Distracted driving played a role in 18 percent of crashes that resulted in an injury in 2010, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Pull off the road to a safe location prior to making a phone call or sending a text. Eating, drinking, grooming, and the use of electronics are distractions too, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
• Protect the entire family – Women incur more accidental injuries than men during the summer months, 54 percent to 46 percent respectively, according to our claims data from 2009 to 2011.

Budget Bandage
 

Try as we might, accidents can still happen. They may cost you summertime fun, but they don’t need to be costly to your wallet.

Check whether your benefits package at work includes disability insurance, which provides a percentage of your income if you can’t work due to an off-the-job injury or illness. Think of it as a bandage for your budget.

While you’re checking your benefits package, look to see if it includes travel assistance. The Hartford bundles travel assistance services along with its group life insurance. The travel services include pre-trip information, as well as emergency medical assistance.

Hope you have a safe and fun summer!
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