With the much-anticipated Cricket World Cup in progress, the world’s most elite players have come together in India, including bowlers with the ability to bounce the ball in at a batsman at speeds exceeding 95mph.
In anticipation of this high-speed and high-bounce spectacle, Technical Foam Services (part of Vita Group), who are at the forefront of innovation, working to ensure that their advanced cricket helmet foam provides the ultimate defence against the powerful knocks delivered by these fast bowlers, is calling for amateur cricketers to prioritise their safety when emulating their cricketing heroes.
Duncan Geddes, technical sales manager, at Technical Foam Services, said “Most people associate concussion in sport with the likes of boxing and rugby, but concussions can occur in all forms of sports, including sports like cricket.
With the Cricket World Cup inspiring the next generation of cricketers, we are calling for all amateurs and youngsters to mitigate the risk of long-term head injuries by always wearing a helmet when batting or fielding close to the stumps.
Concussion checks are becoming more prevalent in first class cricket but knocks to the head can, and do, occur at any level of the game. Stats show that there are on average 3.5 cricket deaths per year, including recreational cricket. Although this death count is relatively low considering the number of people playing cricket around the world, we predict that the number of concussions and long-term head injuries is considerably higher.”
Our responsibility as foam manufacturing and construction specialists is to develop components in products that keep professionals in a range of industries, from healthcare to aviation and sports, fully protected and safe. In the sporting industry, high-quality foams that protect individuals from the dangers and risks of activities like cricket, lacrosse and hockey are vital. For example, polyurethane, a shock–absorbing product Technical Foam Services manufacture for cricket helmets, is equipped with both cushioning and energy absorption properties and is customisable, making it perfect for sports gear and other protective equipment.
With lots of safety equipment available across different sports, it’s important that parents, carers and coaches, understand the most appropriate equipment to be used and the correct way it should be worn.
Duncan Geddes continues “In order for a helmet to be as effective as possible, it is crucial to ensure you have the right fit, with the helmet strap securely fastened. You’ll also want to make sure that the helmet is well vented to avoid overheating. But the most important factor to bear in mind is whether the helmet has a safety standards sticker, as this confirms that the helmet meets stringent production quality standards.
As with other types of helmets used in equestrian and cycling, if you do take a knock, then I recommend having the helmet assessed by your sports equipment supplier, to ensure the integrity of the helmet for future use.”
For more information on concussion please visit: https://technicalfoamservices.co.uk/blog/concussion-awareness-in-sport/
