Football Helmet Safety Essay

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The point of a football helmet is to prevent any type of head injury, mainly concussions. Throughout the years of making new helmets to protect the brain, the percentage of concussions have decreased 20% or more each year. A football helmet consists of a hard plastic shell with thick padding in the inside, a facemask, and a chin strap. The first use of football headgear dates back to 1869 when George started to use straps and earpieces to protect his ears but there were no facemasks on it. It wasn’t until 1939 when the first plastic helmet became available. Riddell has upgraded their helmets to prevent head injuries, Schutt has developed their helmets to become the most protected helmet brand, and the NFL has made multiple rule changes to prevent …show more content…

This program tests helmets for safety and performance. The helmets are tested for impact absorption, impact dispersion, and overall protection. The helmets are also tested for fit and comfort. The NFL has also implemented a helmet certification program, which requires helmets to meet certain safety standards before they can be used in the NFL. Second, the NFL has implemented a helmet replacement program. This program requires players to replace their helmets every two years. This helps to ensure that players are using the most up-to-date and safest helmets available. Third, the NFL has implemented a helmet reconditioning program. This program requires players to have their helmets reconditioned every two years. This helps to ensure that the helmets are in good condition and are providing the best possible protection. Finally, the NFL has implemented a helmet safety education program. This program educates players on the importance of wearing a properly fitted helmet and how to properly care for their helmets. Overall, the NFL has taken a number of steps to ensure that helmets are as safe as possible. The league has implemented a helmet testing program, a helmet replacement program, a helmet reconditioning program, and a helmet safety education program. These programs help to ensure that players are using the safest helmets available and that they are properly cared …show more content…

After multiple players have been diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), it was the NFL’s main focus to turn an eye to football helmet designs. In 2019, the NFL launched its Helmet Challenge, which would award grants to innovators who developed helmets that outperformed the current helmets on the field in protecting players from head injuries. July, 2021 the league spent months and months subjecting helmets to a variety of abuses in the lab to see how well the football helmets held up. In just the year of 2021, between the preseason and the regular season, the NFL saw 187 concussions happen. But the three winners of the Helmet Challenge are hoping to change that. Kollide, Impressio, and Xenith were awarded grants for their helmets which combined with the mix of comfort and the use of

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