Young athletes are under a lot of pressure to perform and succeed when they play.  Sometimes, these athletes play through injuries because the phrase “toughen up” may be used by parents or coaches.  Any athlete playing with a concussion, however, is at risk of extreme danger and harmful injuries.

Concussions occurred in 137,000 young athletes between 2007-2008 according to data collected by the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and The New York Times has reported on new methods to prevent these brain injuries need to be addressed to make sports somewhat safer for young children.

Our brain injury lawyers know the effects of a second concussion on top of a first one can leaving long-lasting effects.  These permanent results can cause brain damage affecting them for the rest of their life.  Headaches and fatigue are likely to be the byproducts of such injuries, but more serious problems like mood swings, amnesia or personality changes have the potential to spring up as well.  In some cases, a second concussion can be fatal and cause wrongful death.

At least four high school athletes have died from what’s referred to as “second-impact syndrome”.  Second-impact syndrome is a rare disregulation of brain activity after a player suffers another hit before the brain recovers from the first concussion.  Players at a couple of colleges and high schools have helmets that are now equipped with an electronic system that can transmit information to the sidelines about the intensity and location of a hit.  This is one effort to alert coaches and trainers to a serious brain injury when impact to the head and neck occurs.

The technology, called HITS, was created by a Lebanon, NH company called Simbex.  The system was created with help from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.  One doctor studied the helmet in high school football and found out that 53 percent of concussed athletes are suspected of not telling medical personnel their injuries, putting themselves in a very dangerous and life-threatening situation.

An individual helmet costs about $1,000, but there are plans to make a lower-cost version to be used widely by all levels of youth sports.  Our brain injury attorneys believe that is a small price to pay for the prevention of brain injuries that can result in serious neurological damage if they are not diagnosed quickly and treated effectively.

Many health officials say taking at least a week off is the best way to recover from a concussion.  And if you think about it, giving up one week of sports is well worth keeping your good health intact for a longer period of time.  You don’t want to suffer another head injury on top of the one you already have.

Call us now at 1-858-551-2090 or click here for a free consultation with an experienced brain injury attorney and find out how we can help you.   We speak English and Spanish, and we look forward to providing advice for your case.  No fee if no recovery.

YOUR TAKE

Will this technology really help to prevent brain injuries or is it going to be an unncessary and costly upgrade?  Do you know anyone who benefited from highly-advanced helmets because it helped to prevent a brain injury?