Many Hockey Helmets Offer Little Protection From Brain Injuries

by | November 16th, 2015

Hockey players are at high risk of suffering brain injuries because of the hard hits and slick playing surfaces associated with the game. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say hockey produces the second highest number of head and brain injuries in the United States each year, coming in just behind football.

Wearing a helmet is the best way to prevent brain injuries, but a new study shows they may not offer as much protection as once believed.

A report from WAVY 10 News examines research conducted at Virginia Tech’s School of Bio Engineering and Mechanics. A team of researchers placed each helmet through a series of 48 separate impacts to test performance. The study took 32 different helmet models into consideration and found very few offered a noteworthy level of protection.

Data indicates nine of the helmets failed to receive a single star, suggesting the models offered players little to no protection from a potential brain injury. Furthermore, no helmet received four or five stars—the highest ratings available.

As a Norfolk personal injury lawyer, Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers is committed to helping athletes protect themselves from injury. That’s why we ask young hockey players to consider these precautions:

  • Check helmet safety ratings- Take a look at the reviews and testing on a helmet’s functionality. This can provide you with the information you need to choose a safe helmet.
  • Ensure a proper fit- Once you have a helmet that can help prevent a brain injury, it’s important to make sure it’s the right size. A helmet should sit just above the brow line and the strap should fasten securely under the chin.
  • Learn proper technique- Experts say that learning safe methods to make contact on the ice is the best way to prevent players from suffering brain injuries.

We hope these tips help keep you and your loved ones safe on the ice this season!