Bristol Regional Medical Center donates concussion resistant helmets to Lebanon High
LEBANON, Va. –
Concussion it’s a word no athlete wants to hear and according to statistics brain injuries like a concussion are at an all-time high.
The Centers for Disease Control reports brain injuries in people younger than 19-years-old increased from more than 153,000 to more than 248,000 between 2001 and 2009. Of those injured 71 percent were males.
Bristol Regional Medical Center made a huge donation today to Lebanon High School. The school recently purchased 95 concussion resistant helmets. Bristol Regional put $1,000 towards those purchases.
So why Lebanon High School?
Representatives for Bristol Regional told me the school has seen quite a few concussions in just the past two football seasons.
Five players were diagnosed with a concussion in 2010 and two players in 2011. Lebanon football coaches say the helmets are just one step towards increased prevention.
“A lot of studies we see now, the gel mouthpiece covers the complete and total jaw line, we’re seeing that it is significant in reducing the concussions,” said Coach Darrell Tayler.
I asked a Lebanon doctor who has treated the athletes diagnosed with concussions from Lebanon High School if the helmets would totally prevent a concussion.
He said no. He said there is no way to prevent only to reduce the risk of a brain injury.
Also, Lebanon High School is grateful to have the money from Bristol Regional. Concussion resistant helmets are not cheap at $300 to $400 each.