Good point and unfortunately helmets don't protect against concussion as research is now showing. It is not so much the hit to the outside of the head but the brain hitting the inside of the skull - repeatedly which does most of the damage. Sports like football and hockey are plagued with concussion injuries (Sidney Crosby). They are making tougher rules around hits and fining illegal hits but the problem begins long before the "big leagues" when kids are in football and hockey programs from age 3. The scary part is they are finding brain damage without any typical symptoms of concussion so the player keeps playing causing further damage. I'm not sure what the solution is given the industry of sport and no one wants to deter their kids from participating in what is otherwise a healthy activity but at least their is an awareness.
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Hi Nancy :)
My experience is in working with horses and kids. In our particular area, it has become mandatory for youth to ride wearing protective head gear. While most kids and parents agree with the practice, in reality there is more to the story...
Although protective head gear can look like protective head gear or like a western hat, the attractiveness isn't really the issue with most riders - especially if everyone is having to wear the same gear. The problem comes with the ability to perform with it on your head.
There have been times where I have witnessed accidents that occurred because the rider had diminished ability to see and react to his/her surroundings as a result of the helmets.
In this case, wearing a safety helmet is about like wearing a football helmet while driving your car. Eventually you get used to it, but in the beginning, it is not only cumbersome, but your field of vision is seriously decreased and you miss things you would not normally miss. Your blind spot is greatly increased, and it feels a bit like driving while looking out a knot hole in a fence. I imagine that once you get used to having to spend a lot of time turning your head instead of using your eyes, that decreased field of vision is not so much a problem, but in the beginning - for those of us riding horses - it can be trouble.
So the moral of the story from my perspective is this: Like everything, wearing a different type of helmet for your own safety is going to take practice so you can learn to use it correctly. As a person who suffered 3 separate concussions as a kid (none horse related), and had kids destroy 3 safety helmets over the years while coming away unhurt, I see the value in them more than most. I just want parents to realize that there is a learning curve to these pieces of safety equipment, and they will better serve their kids by making sure to train them to use them carefully, adequately and appropriately BEFORE they need them in competition.