Football helmets not properly fitted

As the high school football season begins, schools should pay attention to a recent article in The New York Times that said football helmets aren’t protecting students because they aren’t properly fitted.

Dr. Eugene Hong of Drexel College led a study that found the 10-step fitting process commonly used in professional and college football was often not followed in high schools, due to lack of training of coaches and equipment managers.

The two steps most commonly mishandled were making sure the mask was two inches away from the nose and keeping the chin straps an equal distance apart.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, 300,000 sports-and-recreation related concussions are diagnosed nationwide each year and Dr. Hong believes thousands of young football players will suffer from them this year if their helmets aren’t properly fitted.

Dr. Hong believes helmets shouldn’t just be fitted at the beginning of the season but periodically, because helmet fit changes due to collisions, wear and tear and the growth of the player.

Sports safety

With the start of fall sports now in full swing and children returning to school, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) has issued timely guidelines to ensure sports safety.

NATA recommends the following tips for school staff and athletes:
Pre-participation exam – children participating in sports should receive a general health exam prior to activity.

Emergency plan – develop a written emergency plan in consultation with local emergency medical service.

Appropriate safety gear – make sure masks, gloves, pads and other gear fit properly and inspect gear regularly to assure it’s in good condition.

Preconditioning and training – coaches and trainers should ensure children are physically and mentally conditioned to participate in team sports.

Facility safety inspection – remove debris, water, rocks and other hazards from the field and consider weather conditions.

First aid – keep a kit on site for medical emergencies

For more information on youth sports and sports safety, please visit http://www.nata.org/youthsports/index.htm.