Thursday, September 29, 2011

Bullet Proof Football Helmets

Just a few short weeks ago a common occurrence took place when Eagles quarterback, Micheal Vick, suffered from a concussion. The fact that football players will receive concussions when they play is not a new idea, but the amount of awareness in the area is new. For example, Vick was forced to undergo several impact based test and balance testing before he was allowed to participate in the game the following week. This has become the norm not only in professional sports, but high school and college as well. It is now a rarity that players return to action while still recovering from concussion symptoms.
Another amazing component to to Vick's quick return is the role technology is playing in helping improve player safety. Concussions are such a serious issue now that Vick was fitted for a helmet which would include Kevlar. Kevlar is a bullet proof material often used in making helmets for the military, however, concussion safety has become such a growing concern that it is becoming more visible in sports. In fact, several hockey players who have suffered from multiple concussions are said to have Kevlar  in their helmets. Whether the Kevlar helps reduce the number of concussion athletes obtain in sports is not the most important thing here. What is important is that there continues to be a growing awareness and concern for player safety.

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