Comments on: Springs engineer’s helmet could lessen concussions http://csbj.com/2012/11/30/springs-engineers-helmet-could-lessen-concussions/ Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:26:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Mike Oliver http://csbj.com/2012/11/30/springs-engineers-helmet-could-lessen-concussions/comment-page-1/#comment-74629 Mike Oliver Mon, 03 Dec 2012 21:40:54 +0000 http://csbj.com/?p=60539#comment-74629 A concussions in helmeted sports, and in particular football, is a far more complex event than is described in this article. While we certainly encourage scientific investigation and analysis of this issue, and helmet performance in particular, it does not serve the public to suggest that the answer is as simple as airbags in a helmet, or even that the primary answer lies with helmet design or performance.

The CDC, as referenced at the end of the article, is a great source of helpful and informative data on the topic of sports related concussion, and that is why it is extremely important not to leave out key information. The text from the CDC, left out of this article, says that “Concussions can also occur from a blow to the body that causes the head to move rapidly back and forth.” Some of the most severe concussions in the NFL have occurred without any blow to the head or helmet.

The airbag idea is intriguing, and we hope the engineer is successful in advancing the science behind his idea. We understand very well the limitations he faces. Airbags in automobiles can deploy as rapidly as 12 milliseconds after the sensor algorithms are activated and will reach their full deployment in about 25 milliseconds. In a football helmet, the time between a helmet impact that would trigger the deployment of the airbags and head acceleration is less than 5 milliseconds.

I would encourage to all readers to visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/sports/prevention.html to get a complete picture of the prevention and management of sports related concussions.

Mike Oliver
NOCSAE

]]> By: steve http://csbj.com/2012/11/30/springs-engineers-helmet-could-lessen-concussions/comment-page-1/#comment-74577 steve Fri, 30 Nov 2012 21:26:04 +0000 http://csbj.com/?p=60539#comment-74577 It’s exactly like marketing a $500 mouth guard. The mass market won’t buy it and it does nothing to prevent concussion. Your randomly guessing that a blow may have caused a concussion, when it’s not always the case. Just another marketer trying to jump on the bandwagon. These helmets have been marketed by Riddell for years. Same deal, to expensive for the regular joe’s.

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