Innovative...helmets could curb heat deaths

[HighFlyinBey++]

Apparently they can be adapted to other helmet types as well.

http://www.kens5.com/news/stories/KENS20090618-FootbalHelmets.30214e4.html

Company unveils heat sensors for helmets as alternative solution
10:16 AM CDT on Friday, June 19, 2009
Brian New / KENS 5

Since 1995, at least 39 football players -- from the professional ranks to Pop Warner -- have died from heat-related causes.

Last August, Kentucky high school football player Max Gilpin, 15, collapsed on the first day of football practice. He died from a heat stroke.

On Thursday, at its annual conference in San Antonio, the National Association of Athletic Trainers recommended the elimination of two-a-day high school football practice.

It’s a recommendation some say is not needed if proper monitoring is in place.

"There's a problem with heat in football, and we feel like we have a solution to that problem," said Jay Buckalew, founder of Hothead Sports.

His company unveiled Thursday a heat sensor device that is designed to work inside football helmets.

When a player's body temperature reaches dangerous levels, the sensor sends a broadcast signal to a handheld device on the sideline, notifying coaches and trainers of an at-risk athlete.

This device also could be used in the helmets of construction workers, soldiers and firefighters. **And, I would think equine helmets!**

“Firefighters are just like football players," Buckalew said. "They have huge peer pressure. 'I'm not going to leave my partner behind. I'm going to stay right here next to you.'"

Hothead says these heat sensors would cost a high school football team around a hundred dollars per helmet.

[Ajierene]

Since I just finished posting about hydration - what do you want to bet these kids are drinking more soda than water and barely some Gatorade during practice?

Healthy habits can cure most of these problems, along with coaches actually listening and paying attention to their players instead of yelling at them to 'get back in the game' (it was common in the popular sports in my high school...the whole 'quit whining, don't be a pansy' routine).

[HighFlyinBey++]

I wouldn't doubt it, Ajierene. I know years ago I came dangerously close to heat stroke at shows because I would forget to drink anything (but kept their water buckets full--go figure). I started freezing bottles of flavored water & gatorade. I would make myself drink the whole lot during the day. After that, I never had a problem.

When I read the article, I thought of the recent threads on heat stroke. Immediately my head thought "perfect for horse people who don't pay attention to themselves!" (to keep it horse-related!!!)

[Ajierene]

That's what I mean, HighFlyingBey+. Though you have a point that this could help people that don't pay attention to themselves, a much more cost effective solution is to pay attention and make sure you are drinking enough water and getting enough electrolytes, as well as not overexerting yourself in hot weather.

Its like the fence put up on the cliff because people can't figure out that it is dangerous to stand on the edge of the cliff....

[HighFlyinBey++]

ITA, though in my case, the inattentiveness to myself stems from the focus I get from my ADD brain. I can get fixated on a particular task (much like kids who mindlessly play video games) and I can simply forget to "come up for air" and pay attention to details outside my normal routine. I have taught myself to add things to my routine, but it needs to be 1-2 changes at a time or my brain simply can't handle it. It's why I do not do well with sudden changes.

Now that I have added post-chemo-brain & brain fog from medically-forced menopause to the mix, my memory is just shot. I got a Blackberry that synchs my calendar & sends me reminders of things like bills & my sister's birthday :rolleyes:

Something like these sensors would help someone with brain issues like mine or kids that simply haven't learned what the danger signs are. The danger will be relying ONLY on the sensors instead of using them as another tool.