The danger signs of concussion
Source: CDC
- 1:
- Headache that gets worse and does not go away
- 2:
- Weakness, numbness or decreased coordination
- 3:
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- 4:
- Slurred speech
- 5:
- A child who will not stop crying and cannot be consoled
- 6:
- A child who will not nurse or eat
SAN ANTONIO - This season, according to the Sports Concussion Institute, one out of every 10 high school football players will suffer a concussion, and 35 percent will suffer more than one.
While no helmet can prevent all injuries, new safety research revealed some helmets can lessen the risk of a concussion.
"In football your head is going to have contact, expect it," said Stevens High School head athletic trainer Tim Kloewer, but added he tries to do whatever he can to prevent as many concussions as possible.
“We don't want to see them twenty years down the road complaining of dementia, headaches, and all these things that occur from multiple blows to the head,” he explained.
For years, however; schools and coaches have been left in the dark and potentially even misled about helmet safety.
As part of an industry agreement, helmet makers' laboratory tests have been kept confidential, while the Federal Trade Commission has been asked to investigate safety claims by made helmet companies.
"There are all kind of studies,” said Kloewer. “And whatever helmet company says it says theirs is the best."
But some say schools and parents finally have some reliable safety information.
For the first time ever, helmets of different brands and different models were tested and ranked on their concussion resistance.
(See danger signs of concussion below)
A team of researchers at Virginia Tech University studied more than 1.5-million hits and came up with a five star safety rating system.
The Riddell Revolution Speed was the only helmet to receive five stars. Of the ten helmets tested, the Riddell VSR4 and the Adams A200 Pro Elite were the only ones not recommended.
The coaches and trainers at Southwest High School are believers of the rankings, and all it took was a single play when one of their players suffered what initially appeared to be a devastating blow to the head.
"Malcolm Brown (a Steele High School running back now playing at University of Texas) broke one down this sideline, he lowered his shoulder and knocked our player out cold for a little bit," described Southwest athletic director Pete Wagner.
The injured player was wearing the Riddell Revolution Speed helmet, and while he suffered a concussion athletic trainer Melanie Hinson said it was mild compared to what was first feared.
Hinson, who said she had preferred Schutt helmets, credits the Riddell helmet.
"At that moment I changed my mind about the Riddell Speed helmet," she said.
However, some worry this new five star ranking will lead to a false sense of security.
"Helmets can make a big difference,” said Dr. Evan Ratner, “But because of the nature of how the head moves when you are playing contact sports you are still going to get them."
Ratner, an emergency physician and former football player, said he worries players who wear the top ranking helmets may believe their invincible from concussions and thus fail to see the warning signs.
He said, "They should be very concerned about concussions. It's a huge problem.”
San Antonio high schools use a variety of different helmets. Click on “Rating San Antonio High Schools’ Helmets Rating” for complete list and safety rating.
CDC: The danger signs of concussion:
- Headache that gets worse and does not go away
- Weakness, numbness or decreased coordination
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- Slurred speech
- A child who will not stop crying and cannot be consoled
- A child who will not nurse or eat
