Sports Equipment Safety: Hockey Helmets Questioned
We have blogged previously about the safety of sports equipment (such as mouthguards and baseball bats (here and here). Now it is time to take note of a lawsuit underway in Canada regarding the safety of hockey helmets.
The parents of a youth hockey player are suing helmet maker Bauer Hockey Corp, alleging that the helmet did not adequately protect the player against injuries. The article describes Darren More’s injury in this way after crashing into the boards following a hip check:
He was in a coma for six weeks, and remained in hospital four a total of four months. Darren’s injuries included a subdural hematoma, brain swelling and hypoxia.
Darren was unable to graduate high school and cannot seem to function in the manner that he did before the injury.
It is interesting that the plaintiffs have also sued the Canadian Standards Association, which certifies helmets for use. Whether Darren was injured because his helmet was faultily constructed helmet or by a freak accident, here is hoping that this lawsuit resolves the issue and compensates the family if the helmet maker or standards board was derelict in its duties. While Darren's situation is nothing short of tragic, if it leads to changes in the way helmets are designed, it would be a positive legacy for the future
