Helmet Replacement and Education Partnership Launches

21-May-2012 CDC’s Heads Up program joined with multiple sports entities and equipment manufacturers (see list below) to launch a youth football safety and helmet replacement program for youth in underserved communities. The effort, initiated by CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum, is expected to educate thousands of youth football coaches on vital health and safety issues, including concussion, and provide nearly 13,000 new helmets to youth football players in low-income communities beginning in July 2012.

To help get concussion information into the hands of coaches, CDC’s Heads Up concussion resources on how to prevent, recognize, and respond to a suspected concussion are incorporated throughout the program.

The goal is to remove 10 year or older helmets in under-served areas and provide eligible leagues with new helmets for their players. Applications are being accepting for a pilot of the program that will be facilitated in New York, NY; Cleveland, OH; New Orleans, LA; and San Francisco and Oakland, CA prior to the 2012 youth football season. Go HERE for the application (due May 23, 2012).

Learn More
•    Helmet Replacement Program
•    CDC Heads Up Educational Materials

Partners:
NFL, NFL Players Association, USA Football, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Athletic Equipment Reconditioners Association (NAERA), NCAA, National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE), Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), Rawlings, Riddell, Schutt, and Xenith is supported by U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission

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