Some experts warn of the risks of traveling for medical procedures, however. Boston plastic surgeon Samuel Lin recalls a woman who had traveled abroad for breast augmentation. She came into his office complaining of discomfort, thinking her silicone implant had ruptured—only to learn a large cloth had been left in her chest.

Such cases have some consumers wondering whether the risks of medical tourism are worth it. If you’re considering traveling abroad to have a medical procedure performed, know the risks ahead of time so you can make an informed decision.

Know the Risks

A British National Health Research Institute study published in February found many consumers who traveled for medical treatment were not informed about potentially serious risks. The study found most people rely on the Internet or friends rather than hard clinical findings. They had no idea about the risks, such as a lack of legal recourse and the costs of non-emergency care back home to fix problems that arose overseas.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) express similar concerns and cautions about other potential problems. These include language barriers, unsafe needle reuse, substandard medication, greater bacteria presence and increased risk of post-surgical blood clots after a long flight. To reduce these risks, the CDC suggests taking these preventive measures:

• Check provider qualifications with the Joint Commission International
• Get written agreements
• Plan to have a translator available
• Arrange follow-up care with your stateside physician

Consider Your Alternatives

If the potential hazards are too risky for you, consider other payment alternatives:

• Last year, the Oregon Office for Health Policy Research reviewed some promising alternative payment methods that have grown more popular recently. These include bundled payments of a set amount for all services rendered during a single health care episode, shared saving incentives for providers, pay-for-performance incentives and patient-centered medical home payments. Ask your health care provider if he or she participates in any of these.
• In November, the American Medical Association passed recommendations for payment models structured around team-based health care.
• If you’re entitled to regular payments from a structured settlement or annuity, consider selling your future payments to a company like J.G. Wentworth for a lump sum of cash now. You can then use the funds to help cover your medical expenses.

Take Precautions

If you decide the risk is worth it, make sure you abide by the guidelines for safe practices issued by the American Medical Association. These guidelines stipulate that care abroad must be offered voluntarily in a way that does not limit other options. Only internationally accredited facilities should be used. Preparatory and follow-up care should be coordinated with treatment abroad and factored into coverage. Patients should be advised of their rights and informed of the risks of combining surgical procedures with long flights.

And, we would be remiss if we didn’t advise you to check your disability insurance policy to see what provisions are included if you were to become disabled while out of the country.

Original article: Know the Risks of Medical Tourism: Is It Worth It?

©2014 ProtectYourIncome.com. All Rights Reserved.

Promote Perfect Posture

Spending eight hours per day in that office chair doesn’t do your back any favors. Furthermore, many of us hunch our shoulders or slouch in our chairs, contributing to stress on the spine. Good posture maintains the natural curvature of your back, keeping the spine properly aligned. When sitting, Mayo Clinic recommends finding a chair that allows you to keep your thighs parallel to the floor with both feet resting on the ground. Sit with your back flush against the back of the chair, keeping your shoulders relaxed and neck straight. If your chair doesn’t properly support your back, consider placing a small pillow or rolled towel at the curvature of your lower back.

Ditch The Office Chair

More workers are rethinking their office chairs and opting for non-traditional options. One choice is to swap your chair for a large exercise ball. This promotes core strength and strong posture. Another alternative is switching to a standing desk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, standing throughout the workday rather than sitting may reduce back pain. If your company doesn’t offer standing desks, commit to standing up for at least five to 10 minutes per hour to reduce strain on your back.

Switch Your Bag & Lighten Your Load

That large purse that you sling over your shoulder may be further contributing to your back pain. Shoulder bags, messenger-style bags, and purses shift the weight of your load to one side, leading to spinal misalignment. If possible, switch to a backpack-style back that evenly distributes weight between your shoulders. Reluctant to invest in a new bag? Instead, commit to lightening your daily load. For example, a heavy laptop may add six or more pounds to your bag’s weight. A lighter alternative, such as a Lenovo Ultrabook, weighs just three or four pounds. This reduction in weight may translate to significant improvements in your back pain.

Strengthen Your Abs

For many Americans, weak abdominal muscles cause the lower back muscles to take on a larger chunk of your daily load. Strengthening your core muscles may alleviate back pain. Consider the following two exercises:

• Plank: Begin by adopting a push-up position with your back held straight. Then, hold this plank position for 30 seconds. If it’s too challenging to hold this position, drop your knees to the floor, keeping your abs tight. Repeat three times per day, increasing the duration as the exercise becomes easier.

• Bridge: Lie on your back with your knees bent. In a fluid motion, raise your hips off the floor until your knees, hips, and shoulders form a straight line. Be careful not to arch your back. Then, lower to the ground and repeat 10 times.

Original article: Office Work Breaking Your Back? 4 Tips to Alleviate Back Pain

©2014 ProtectYourIncome.com. All Rights Reserved.

Know your coverage

Know your coverage. Many baby boomers mistakenly assume their insurance automatically includes either short or long term disability coverage. Most policies do not normally carry disability insurance, but have separate policies that can be attached to include disability and other types of elective forms of insurance. Read through your policy thoroughly. If you have any questions concerning what is covered and what is not, call your disability insurance broker and ask them directly.

Understand the limits of conventional insurance policies

Conventional insurance policies cover the cost of an illness or an injury, but few offer coverage that extends past the initial injury. Long term care falls under short and/or long term disability policies. Purchase a disability police before you need it and the transition to a facility that offers long term care will be much easier. Staff members at assisted living facilities in Tampa are able to answer questions about the estimated cost of living after being transferred into their care, so don’t wait until an emergency to ask questions about coverage. Be informed about both conventional and long term coverage before you find out you need it. Don’t remain under the impression that a disability policy will cover all of your medical costs. Most benefit programs are deceptively modest. Make sure you have adequate coverage using both types of insurance policies.

Social Security is not a cure-all

As a baby boomer, you know that Social Security is not a perfect system and can be complicated to understand. It was not designed to cover individuals who received a disabling injury or illness. Disability insurance is the most efficient way to help cover where social security leaves off. Contact your insurance agent to discuss the options you have available, and ask them to explain each policy in depth so you understand what Social Security will cover in comparison to what a disability policy will.

Consider what will happen if you do experience an injury that requires long term care and determine your financial needs. Talk to long term care facilities to find out what costs are associated with residency and what you will have to provide out of pocket. Learn as much as you can about both short term and long term disability policies. Know your responsibilities so you can maintain the same quality of life after an accident as you had before. Continually re-evaluate your needs when it comes to long-term care. The financial resources you had at your disposal five years ago may not provide adequate coverage in the future.

Original article: Baby Boomers Underestimate Disability Insurance

©2014 ProtectYourIncome.com. All Rights Reserved.

1.Hire a professional (or act like one) to decorate your house.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that approximately 5,800 people a year were treated in hospital emergency rooms during the holiday period for these injuries.  The CDC believes that the numbers are under-reported because they only counted those who were treated in ER’s – not in physicians’ offices.

If you aren’t the type (like me) who repairs your roof or clean out the gutters, why in God’s name would you think of climbing up a very tall ladder to put Christmas decorations up there?  If hiring a seasonal decorator is not in your budget, make sure you wear rubber-soled shoes and use a sturdy ladder planted firmly on the ground.  Or better yet, maybe those lights would look better closer to the ground.

2. If you’re not a seasoned professional, avoid Black Friday sales

Have you seen what goes on in those stores on Black Friday?  It isn’t for the faint of heart or out of shape individual.  Seriously, you should begin training for next year’s sale the day after this year’s – just as you would for a marathon or, better yet, an ironman competition. Wearing the proper clothes can certainly help – I recommend a suit of armor or, at the least, one made of chain mail.

To make matters worse, many stores have increased the hours of Black Friday, with many of them starting Thanksgiving Day.  Maybe marathon training isn’t enough anymore.  Stay home, sit on your comfortable sofa, whip out your laptop or tablet and order away.  You might suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome when you’re done, but that’s far better than being stampeded in Wal-Mart.

3. Don’t drive while intoxicated

While this applies to any time of the year, somehow I feel that people need to be reminded not to over-indulge and drive during the holiday season.   According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), deaths from drinking and driving spike around the holidays, with alcohol being blamed for about 52 percent of fatal collisions on Christmas and 57 percent on New Year’s compared to a rate of 41 percent for the entire year. In addition to the more than 1,200 alcohol-related deaths that will occur on the road this holiday season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that more than 25,000 people will be injured.

If you’re planning to indulge at a holiday party, appoint a designated driver or use a Taxi service.  And never let anyone you know drive while intoxicated.

4. Reduce the stress 

It’s the most wonderful time  of year, right?  However, it’s quite ironic how spreading all that goodwill and cheer can be so stressful.  This is supposed to be the feel-good time of year, so try to keep calm and don’t sweat the small stuff.  I know it’s easier said than done, but allowing yourself too much stress can have psychological, as well as physiological effects.   so here are a few tips to help reduce some of the stress:

• Apply numbers 1-3 of this blog post.
• Chant “Serenity Now” repeatedly (Seinfeld-style).
• Create a shopping budget and stick to it.
• Watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” every day (in black and white).
• Buy something for yourself – you deserve it.
• Commit multiple random acts of kindness.
• Anything else that makes you feel better, provided it’s legal.

5. Keep your Christmas tree hydrated.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the estimated property losses as a result of Christmas tree fires was about $19 million  in 2009.  Candle-related deaths during this same period resulted in 74 deaths and $347 million in property damage.  According to the CPSC, a lot of these accidents could have been prevented.   

The CPSC recommends:

• Check for freshness when you purchase your tree.   
• Place your tree away from heat sources
• If you buy an artificial tree, look for the label “Fire Resistant.”
• Use only lights that have been tested (usually by Underwriters Laboratory).
• Check each set of lights and extension cords for cuts and/or fraying.

6. If you’re too old to try your child’s new toy – don’t try it

This  advice was borne of my own experience – I thought riding my daughter’s brand new Razor Scooter down a steep hill would be fun.  It was, until I hit a pothole and went down the rest of the hill sans scooter.  Needless to say, the rest of the holiday season wasn’t particularly joyful.  

My first memory of an adult being injured playing with a child’s toy was when my Uncle Bob tried instructing my brother and on the use of the Hula Hoop.  Unfortunately, the toy didn’t come with a warning not to attempt using it while intoxicated (Uncle Bob’s usual  state).  Not only did he injure his back with his demonstration, but he also injured the coffee table and lamp when he fell on them.

7. Carve the turkey – not your hands

Carving the turkey in my family wasn’t only about carving the turkey – it was a rite of manhood, passed down through many generations.  When the knife was passed on to me, I was expected to perfectly carve the bird clean.  Not surprisingly, carving-related injuries spike on Thanksgiving day.   The American Society for the Surgery of the Hand (ASHH) recommends the following carving tips:

• Never cut towards yourself. One slip of the knife can cause a horrific injury.
• While carving a turkey or cutting a pumpkin your free hand should be placed opposite the side you are carving towards. Don’t place your hand underneath the blade to catch the slice of meat.
• Keep your cutting area well-lit and dry. Good lighting will help prevent an accidental cut of the finger and making sure your cutting surface is dry will prevent ingredients from slipping while chopping.
• Keep your knife handles dry. A wet handle can prove slippery and cause your hand to slip down onto the blade resulting in a nasty cut.
• Keep all cutting utensils sharp. A sharp knife will never need to be forced to cut, chop, carve or slice. A knife too dull to cut properly is still sharp enough to cause an injury.
• Use an electric knife to ease the carving of the turkey or ham.
• Use kitchen shears to tackle the job of cutting bones and joints.
• Leave meat and pumpkin carving to the adults.  Children have not yet developed the dexterity skills necessary to safely handle sharp utensils.
• Lastly, should you cut your finger or hand, bleeding from minor cuts will often stop on their own by applying direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving from ProtectYourIncome.com

Original article: 7 Holiday Safety Tips

©2014 ProtectYourIncome.com. All Rights Reserved.

Media outlets that I know of that are reporting on the subject include CBS’ 60 Minutes and NPR’s Planet Money.  The 60 Minutes show, titled Disability USA, which aired on October 6, 2013, claims that a significant number of people are exploiting the system which, if this behavior continues unchecked, will lead to the ultimate collapse of the program.  It would be the first government program in the U.S. to run out of money.  

According to 60 Minutes, the Federal Disability program serves nearly 12 million people – up 20 percent in the last six years, and has a budget of $135 billion.   That’s more than the government spent last year on the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department and the Labor Department combined.  That’s a far cry from the program founders’ original intention when they established it in 1950.  It wasn’t originally set up to be the massive program it is today, but rather one that would assist people who were truly unable to work due to injury or illness.

The program has been growing in leaps and bounds.  Since the early 1990′s, the number of people has nearly doubled, growing to about 8.5 million.  Add in children and spouses who also receive checks and the numbers swell to about 11.5 million.  According to NPR’s Planet Money’s piece, Unfit for Work, more than 5 percent of all eligible adults are now receiving benefits, up from about 3 percent twenty years ago. Where is this growth coming from?  Are there that many more people disabled today than there were 20 years ago?  Are we sicker today, even with all the advances in modern medicine?

The Social Security Administration, which runs the disability program, says that the explosive surge is due to the combination of aging baby boomers and the lingering effects of a bad economy. Part of the problem, according to Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, is this program has been turned into a “de facto welfare program” for middle aged, blue collar workers. 

There are certainly many people receiving disability benefits who deserve them and I have no problem with people receiving benefits who should be.  However, what has happened is a perfect storm of sorts – qualifying for disability benefits has become much easier at a time when getting and holding a job has become more difficult.

Recipients must now only prove that they are too physically or mentally impaired to perform any kind of work.  Therefore, it’s no wonder that self-reported health problems, such as “back pain” and mental disorders, which require only subjective diagnosis (no blood tests or x-rays, etc. are needed as proof) have become the leading claims for Social Security Disability Insurance.

According to the 60 Minutes report, the weakness in the system is being exploited by folks with marginal claims and attorneys pumping out advertising to these people, in order to help them beat the system.  Many of these firms are making millions of dollars from fighting Social Security Disability claims.  Please note that I am not speaking of the many fine attorneys out there who help people fight legitimate claims.  I’m talking about those that have found out “legitimate” ways to beat the system.

The system is obviously broken and I don’t have any great hopes that our government can fix it.  It’s moving like a runaway train and, at this point, the brakes aren’t going to stop it.  As I advise people not to count on Social Security for their retirement, I do the same regarding disability insurance – protect your income from illness or injury with a good individual disability policy from a solid insurance company.  If you need some assistance with that, ProtectYourIncome.com is here to help.

Original article: The Social Security Disability Insurance Safety Net is Ripping

©2014 ProtectYourIncome.com. All Rights Reserved.

Misconceptions about Disability Insurance

Many in this age group, probably like most other age groups, don’t fully understand howdisability insurance works.  Many stated that they didn’t think they needed it because they didn’t work in a high-risk profession.  Many don’t understand that injuries occur most frequently outside of the workplace.  Nor do they understand that illnesses, not accidents and injuries, are the leading cause of disability.

They Value their Earning Power but Don’t Fully Protect it

A large percentage of those surveyed worry about money regularly (43% of men and 65% of women).  However, the majority of them (35%) don’t have disability insurance to protect their income in the event they become disabled and, as a result, can’t work and earn an income.  Also, more than 50% of those surveyed don’t have an emergency fund set up to take care of unforeseen circumstances, such as disability or loss of work for other reasons.

Their Biggest Asset

When asked what their most essential body part is, 73% said it was their mind.  Many of these young people are college graduates and invested over $100,000 for that education.  If they lost the capacity to use their minds due to disability, not only would they  most probably lose their ability to work, but the investment in their education would be nullified.  As we often say in the industry, disability insurance protects one’s greatest asset – the ability to earn an income…

So Why don’t they have Disability Insurance?

Of those surveyed who choose not to have disability insurance – 25% say it’s because they do not think it’s worth the cost and; 21% don’t have it because they are not at physical risk at their jobs.  However, consider the following information provided by the Council for Disability Awareness:

• Just over 1 in 4 of today’s 20-year-olds will become disabled before they retire.
• Work accidents (which would be covered by workers comp) are not usually the culprit.  Back injuries, cancer, heart disease and other illnesses cause the majority of long-term disabilities.

We welcome this survey because it’s obvious there’s a disconnect between this group’s perceptions and the reality about the need for disability insurance is.  The insurance industry, through groups like LIFE and the Council for Disability Awareness, has been rolling out educational and awareness campaigns for quite some time.  Looking at the results of the survey, it’s obvious that more financial education is needed for this group.  As a matter of fact, I believe all aspects of financial education should be started at younger ages.

Original article: What Millennials Think about Disability Insurance

©2014 ProtectYourIncome.com. All Rights Reserved.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, those who undergo spinal fusion are likely to be off work for four to six weeks assuming they are young and healthy, and the job is not overly strenuous. For older patients with more extensive surgery, it may take four to six months to recover for a return to work.

Any major medical procedure that requires a lengthy period of recovery is bound to raise a lot of questions, due to the necessary time off from work. But, because back surgery is generally not something prospective patients rush into, it allows for the much-needed time to plan appropriately.

While many businesses offer full-time employees paid time off for illness or medical appointments, time for extended rest and recuperation can be more of a challenge. Consider the answers to these important questions in order to plan your time away from work and decrease the chances of job loss.

How Do I Notify My Employer, and How Soon?

Prior to notifying your employer, secure a paper from your health care provider stating you will need to be out of work. It should list the reason you will not be able to work, the date you’ll need to stop working and the date you’re anticipated to return.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) permits the employer to require employees obtain a completed certification from their health care provider. It should have the medical professional’s signature and be on official letterhead. The FMLA also states an employee must give at least 30 days’ notice for a planned medical procedure, or “as soon as practicable,” according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Giving your employer advanced notice will demonstrate your professionalism, and also help your employer plan for your absence. Ideally, you should offer to create a written plan that will help the replacement take over your tasks while you’re out.

Am I Eligible for the Family and Medical Leave Act?

The U.S. Family and Medical Leave Act offers some protections for those who need to take an extended leave from work. However, specific criteria must be met and certain procedures have to be followed. Your first step should be to check with your human resources department to determine if you are eligible.

Some businesses, such as private employers with less than 50 employees, are not covered under the FMLA. However, they may be covered under state family and medical leave laws.

How Do I Find Out What Insurance Will Cover?

If you have a benefits coordinator or designated person at your workplace for health and/or disability insurance benefits, you should set up a meeting to discuss coverage. When insurance companies don’t allow payment, it’s usually because the consumer did not follow required procedures or didn’t understand limits of coverage, according to nolo.com. You should also make sure you’re clear on how payment works. In addition to, or in lieu of, speaking with the appropriate person at work, you should read your health and (long and short term) disability insurance policies thoroughly. If you have questions, you should also speak with a representative at the insurance company.

Getting Back to Work

The quicker you’re able to recover, the sooner you can get back to work and alleviate any job worries. Following your doctor’s post-surgery rehabilitation program is a must, as is getting enough quality sleep, which will help your body heal faster.

Appropriate exercise, including stretching, can also significantly enhance the healing and recovery process. With your physician’s OK, participating in spine exercises can contribute to a quicker recovery as well.

Original article: How to Plan an Outage from Work for a Medical Procedure

©2014 ProtectYourIncome.com. All Rights Reserved.

“The most common Halloween injuries we see are severe hand injuries from pumpkin carving and leg and extremity injuries due to falls from long costumes and/or costumes that impair vision,” said orthopaedic surgeon and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) spokesperson Kevin G. Shea, MD. “It’s a scary thing when individuals are ill equipped with safety rules such as wearing dark costumes without reflectors, or using the wrong tools to carve a pumpkin. By familiarizing yourself with safety tips, you decrease your chances for injuries.”

The key to Halloween safety for all age groups is adult supervision, says Steven E. Krug, M.D., FAAP, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) urge celebrants of all ages to put safety first.  To help reduce the risk for injury on Halloween, they offer the following safety tips:

Trick-or-treat

• Walk on sidewalks and never cut across yards or driveways. Obey all traffic signals and remain in designated crosswalks when crossing the street.
• Costumes should be flame-resistant and fit properly. The child’s vision should be unobstructed by masks, face paint or hats. Costumes that are too long may cause kids to trip and fall, so trim or hem them as necessary.
• Wear sturdy, comfortable, slip-resistant shoes to avoid falls.
• Trick-or-treaters should only approach houses that are well lit. Both children and parents should carry flashlights to see and be seen.
• Be aware of neighborhood dogs when trick-or-treating. Remember that these pets can pose a threat when you approach their home.
• Avoid candles in Halloween decorations.  Instead, use non-flammable light sources, like glow sticks or artificial pumpkin lights.
• Carry a cell phone while trick-or-treating in case of an emergency.

Pumpkin carving 

• Use a pumpkin carving kit, or knives specifically designed for carving. These are less likely to get stuck in the thick pumpkin skin. 
• Children should not carve pumpkins unless supervised closely by an adult. Some Halloween carving devices, designed especially for children, may be safe for use with parental supervision.  Younger children can use paint, markers or other non-carving decoration kits. Always carve pumpkins in a clean, dry and well-lit area, and make sure there is no moisture on the carving tools or your hands.
• Beware of sharp carving tools!  If you are cut, apply pressure with a clean cloth and elevate the area above the heart. If bleeding does not stop within 10-15 minutes or if the cut is deep, evaluation by a physician might be needed.  Make sure cuts are cleaned and dressed with clean bandages.

So, put your costumes on, take your kids out and, armed with these safety tools, go out and have a great time.  And, if you just happen to see a six-foot tall zombie at your door, accompanied by a much smaller Spider Man, make sure to put extra Snickers bars (the large ones – not the minis) in his bag. 

Happy Halloween!

Original article: Take the Scare out of Halloween

©2014 ProtectYourIncome.com. All Rights Reserved.

Rebecca had purchased an individual policy to protect her personal income and a business overhead expense policy and Disability buy-out policy to protect her business interest from Guardian Life Insurance, one of the premier companies offering own-occupation disability income insurance for professionals.

Her individual policy paid her $14,220 a month (once she satisfied the policy’s 90 day elimination period).  The cost of living adjustment rider will increase her benefits annually (3% compounded), so her benefits can keep pace with inflation. 

As a business partner, Rebecca was responsible for 50% of the overhead, which was approximately $100,000 a month.  Her overhead expense policy reimbursed her $50,000 a month so she could continue to pay her share of expenses, which included employee salaries, rent, utilities and equipment rentals.  Even though Rebecca couldn’t work, she was able to keep the business afloat with this coverage.

After being out of work for a year, with slim hopes of full recovery, her business partner voiced concern about the future of the business, specifically his ability to continue covering future expenses and running the business without Rebecca.  Fortunately, her Disability Buy-Out policy provided $560,000 to her business partner (after the 360-day elimination period) in order to buy out her share of the business.

Rebecca continued to receive her monthly benefits from her individual policy and will continue to do so as long as she remains unable to perform the duties of her occupation, even if she chooses to go into another field, such as teaching.

Unless you have experienced a disabling injury or illness or know someone who has met with this misfortune, the need for disability insurance might not seem real to you.  For that reason, Guardian (as well as other insurance companies) publishes these real stories, not for the sake of scaring you, but to bring the reality of disability closer to home.  If, by continuing to publish these stories, we have made the need for this type of insurance more real to you, we have done our job.  If you would like to receive disability insurance quotes, ProtectYourIncome.com is here to help.

Original article: A Real Life Disability Story – Back Injury

©2014 ProtectYourIncome.com. All Rights Reserved.

Stay Healthy at Work

Back in May we wrote up some tips to help prevent the risk of disability in everyday life, but sometimes injuries that prevent us from working happen in the very place we earn a living. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2011, there were 117 cases of workplace injuries per 10,000 workers, causing them to take time away from their job. Most full-time employers offer benefits that cover workmen’s compensation and disability, but it’s often at a percentage below normal pay. Be sure to keep yourself safe in the workplace to avoid a cut to your paycheck during recovery.

• Keep a Strong Back
  This is about more than just “bend at the knees, not at the back”-type advice. Keeping a strong back outside of work will prevent injuries on the clock. If you don’t have a gym membership (and use it regularly), go for a jog or walk each night. Even the smallest amounts of regular exercise will do wonders for your posture.

• Stay Hydrated
  Healthy muscles consist of about 70 percent water. It’s important to drink plenty throughout the day, but just how much? The Mayo Clinic recommends about three liters for men and 2.2 liters for women each day. Soda and other sugary drinks should be avoided as much as possible, especially when you’re working hardest. Hydrated muscles aren’t only more efficient, they help prevent pulls and strains that cause injury.

• Get Some Sleep
  Improper sleep leads to fatigue, fatigue leads to carelessness, and carelessness leads to injury. You should be sleeping 6.5 to 8 hours each night. Anything less and you’re not only robbing yourself of energy throughout the day, your body is at risk to both injury and illness from a lowered immune system.

• Eat Right
  A proper diet isn’t just for a healthy body fat percentage and nutrients. A poor diet consisting of sugar and preservatives can cause inflammation in the body which leads to heart disease and movement system disorders. Those types of discomforts that affection functional movements can increase the risk of injury when you’re on the job.

• Know Your Company’s Policies
  “Is this my job?” It’s a phrase that’s looked down on in the workplace, but when it comes to your safety, it’s valid. If a task at your workplace puts your safety at risk, know if that task is something you even signed up for when you took the job. Companies like Annuity.org provide information regarding settlements for workers claiming disability and compensation. Arm yourself with the facts before taking risks on the job.

• Trust Your Gut
  If a job doesn’t look right or doesn’t feel right, chances are it isn’t right. It’s important to know your mental and physical limits at work. If you feel stressed, fatigued or even hurt, don’t risk turning a pain into an injury. Keep your supervisor informed when something doesn’t feel right. He or she wants to keep you safe and healthy just as much as you.

Original article: Tips For Staying Safe On The Job

©2014 ProtectYourIncome.com. All Rights Reserved.