Sports Safety: What can be done to prevent football-related concussions?
The recent New York Times article about the safety of kids' football helmets* prompted much discussion here in our office. If football helmet improvements are three to four years away, how can we better protect kids from football-related head injuries now?
We spoke with Randy Swart, Vice Chair of the ASTM Subcommittee F08.53 on Headgear and Helmets and Director of the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (www.bhsi.org).
Swart is of the opinion that football helmets work very well. According to Swart, "the best helmet in the world is not going to protect a kid from certain body blows. The real problems have to do with the way football is allowed to be played."
Swart favors changing the rules of the game so children cannot use their heads as weapons and helmet hits are not permitted.
And what can parents do?
1. Ask your child's football coach if the helmets have been reconditioned to meet the NOCSAE** standard. If you can, find out the age of the helmets and, if possible, do not let your child use one that is over 10 years old.
2. If your child is engaged in rough play or experiences a blow to the head, watch for signs of a concussion. These may include: appearing dazed or stunned; forgetting an instruction; clumsiness; answering questions slowly; loss of consciousness; and/or an inability to recall events before or after the hit or fall. For a more comprehensive list of symptoms, please see the Internet sites below.
3. Teach your child to stop playing if he experiences a headache or "pressure" in the head, nausea or vomiting, balance problems or dizziness, double or blurred vision, sensitivity to light or noise, sluggishness, concentration or memory problems, confusion, or if he/she doesn't feel right or just feels down.
4. If you suspect a head injury or concussion, have your child evaluated by a healthcare professional. Don't let your child return to play until he/she is symptom free and the health care professional gives the okay.
For more information about recognizing concussions and football head injuries:
http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/sports/recognize.html
http://www.silive.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/10/scary_statistics_about_concuss.html
*For the New York Times article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/21/sports/football/21helmets.html
**NOCSAE is the "National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment"
