Why Should You Wear A Safety Helmet In Football?

Team sports are a good way for your children to meet other kids, make new friends and learn the dynamics of playing with others, which will serve them well in the years to come. However, many people know that kids often sustain minor injuries while playing. A study published in the November/December 2001 issue of the "Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons" stated that bicycle riding, football, basketball and roller sports were the four activities where children sustained the most injuries to bones and muscles. Because football is a contact sport, it is important to protect your body as best you can, and this includes wearing a helmet.

Function

Football helmets are designed to keep the player from getting a concussion or other severe head injury. Football helmets have either a foam or inflatable padding on the inside to provide additional cushioning in case of a collision. Helmets are round in design, both to conform to the shape of the head and also to help disperse the force of an impact, spreading it around the head to minimize the impact a direct blow would have on the head and the brain.

Considerations

Select the type of helmet best suited to your level of play. For example, younger children will not sustain the same impact as a professional player, so the child can wear a foam-lined helmet. Athletes taking harder hits should consider either the inflatable-lined helmet or a helmet that contains an air bladder surrounding the foam for added protection. Some helmets also have additional buffers on the sides to increase shock absorption. Make sure your helmet is not cracked or missing padding or other parts that may make it unsafe. You should ask a professional to help you find out what size helmet you need for the best protection. It is important that the helmet does not shift on your head upon impact.

Warnings

Football helmets reduce the risk of blunt head trauma and concussions by protecting the head. However, football helmets can only perform their job if the player uses the helmet correctly. It is important for football players to learn how to properly tackle an opponent, because they will increase their likelihood of incurring a concussion by leading the tackle with their head and neck, or if they make helmet-to-helmet contact. Football players also need to be aware of the warning labels located on or inside the helmet. These warnings outline the possible types of injuries a player may incur while playing football, and such warnings must be updated if the helmet is reconditioned at any time.

Misconceptions

Football helmets do not protect against neck injuries or rotational injuries that may lead to concussions. It is still possible that a football player may incur a concussion while wearing a helmet, but it is less likely that they will get a concussion from a blunt force. Reconditioned helmets must be inspected carefully before being used because the foam inside the helmet may have degraded over time and may not be as effective in preventing concussions. According to an article in "The New York Times," helmet manufacturer Riddell's vice president of research and development Thad Ide said reconditioned helmets did not degrade, making them comparable to new helmets. National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment's technical director Dave Halstead said the helmet tests only confirmed the equipment protected against severe impacts that may cause fractures of the skull, not necessarily against concussions.