Head Injury SURVEY

[Hockey_nut97]

I am conducting a study on head injuries in hockey players. Your help is MUCH appreciated. Thank you. [email protected]

1. What kinds of hockey do you play?

2. Do you wear a helmet?

3. What kind (brand, model, etc.) ?

4. Have you ever had a concussion or other head injury?

5. Have you had any while wearing a helmet?

6. How many and to what extent?

7. Could any of these have been prevented and if so how?

8. Do you recommend wearing a helmet with a face mask?

9. Do you wear a mouth guard?

10. Have these two items helped prevent any injuries to yourself?

[ChloroFiend]

1.) collegiate roller hockey and recreational ice hockey
2.) Yes
3.) CCM HT2, usually with a one-excel straight cut half shield, but sometimes with a Jofa Cage if required by the league
4.) yes
5.) yes
6.) 5, 4 first degree, one 2nd degree
7.) unsure
8.) i recommend a half shield...most of the facial injuries i see happen to the upper half of the face, not to the mouth
9.) no
10.) yes, ive avoided several eye injuries thanks to my half shield

-Jon "ChloroFiend" Gucinski
-Iowa State Roller Hockey

[JohnHopkins]

1. What kinds of hockey do you play?

I officiate ice and roller. I haven't played ice, really since my senior year of high school (1989).

2. Do you wear a helmet?
Hell, yes. It's mandatory, but I would anyway.

3. What kind (brand, model, etc.) ?
I have a CCM helmet that is probably about 9 or 10 years old. I am planning an upgrade soon. (another CCM)

4. Have you ever had a concussion or other head injury?
I suffered a slight concussion during the 1993-94 ice hockey season. I was skating backwards, caught a rut and fell backwards, landing head first. I never lost consciousness, but I had a headache for the rest of the day, and everything seemed to have a yellow tint to it. Several years later, I read that these symptoms fit the bill for a concussion. (I know there are 3 grades, mine was the least severe)

5. Have you had any while wearing a helmet?
Just the one.

6. How many and to what extent?
Already explained. If I hadn't been wearing a helmet, it would most likely have been the worst-case scenario. Fortunately, I always keep my chin strap tight. If it had been loose, like so many players do today (and like Mr. Brashear in Vancouver), I would have been in deep trouble.

7. Could any of these have been prevented and if so how?
Yeah, if the Zamboni driver had dropped the blade a little lower when he resurfaced before my game. LOL

8. Do you recommend wearing a helmet with a face mask?
If players knew how to keep their sticks down (but they don't because most are poorly coached IMHO), I don't think a full facemask is necessary. I would wear a half-shield to protect the eyes, though.

9. Do you wear a mouth guard?
If I were playing, I would. Definitely.

10. Have these two items helped prevent any injuries to yourself?
When I played, I was only hit in the facemask by the puck once. It was a deflection and probably would have claimed a few teeth.

Sincerely,

John Hopkins
Buffalo Wings

[RichardGraham]

1. What kinds of hockey do you play?

Inline and ice, street, table, Sega, Dreamcast, PlayStation 1 & 2, etc...

2. Do you wear a helmet?

Only in the first three categories.

3. What kind (brand, model, etc.) ?

Trying to get me in trouble with advertisers??????

4. Have you ever had a concussion or other head injury?

No, but I've often been told to get my head examined. Does that count?

5. Have you had any while wearing a helmet?

Except for helmet hair, no.

6. How many and to what extent?

To the extent that I stopped wearing an Afro. (I hope no one takes this joke racially; I have several African American friends, and they all have a sense of humor.)

7. Could any of these have been prevented and if so how?

By not wearing a helmet.

8. Do you recommend wearing a helmet with a face mask?

Helmet and half-shield at least, yes. Depends on the age and experience of the player, personal preference, etc.

9. Do you wear a mouth guard?

No, because it makes it impossible for me to talk. However, my teammates keep telling me I should wear one. Weird.

10. Have these two items helped prevent any injuries to yourself?

Yes. Once I tripped over my helmet that I'd left in the hallway. At that same time, someone had tossed me a bottle of beer without my awareness, and I missed getting clocked in the head with an ice-cold Miller Genuine Draft.

Seriously, my helmet has prevented MANY injuries. Anyone who plays hockey without a helmet is asking for trouble -- though I've done it many times playing pickup inline hockey. Shame on me.

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[JohnHopkins]

Interesting. Hey, Rich...if you wear a full facemask, just attach the mouthguard to the mask. I learned pretty quickly to use my tongue to push the mouthpiece aside to shout instructions to my teammates, then pull the mouthpiece back into my mouth without any great effort.

Women today still thank me for this talent. :-)

>>10. Have these two items helped prevent any injuries to yourself?

>>Yes. Once I tripped over my helmet that I'd left in the hallway. At that same time, someone had tossed me a bottle of beer without my awareness, and I missed getting clocked in the head with an ice-cold Miller Genuine Draft.

MGD???? My how the mighty have fallen!!!! Whatever happened to good old Labatt Blue and Molson Canadian. (Just kiding...as Rich knows, I spent many an hour at the National Sports Bar & Grill during the 1999 RHI playoffs quaffing down MGD's.)

Sincerely,

John Hopkins
Buffalo Wings