Headgear for student athletes

Do your students wear headgear when they participate in sports?

According to a recent Public Health Report survey, many students fail to wear headgear in all sports other than football, which contributes to head and eye injuries and lost teeth.

Many baseball players, for instance, don’t wear headgear, even when they’re at bat, and most baseball related injuries affect the head and face.

The problem is even worse for female athletes, who are much less likely to wear protective headgear than males. Female field hockey players rarely wear headgear, while male players wear it at all levels.

“Sports and recreational injuries are easily prevented,” says the study. Coaches should play a major role by instructing students in the proper fit, use and maintenance of headgear, including helmets, mouth guards and face masks.