Eye Injuries
Concussion
Spinal Injury
Q: Hockey seems like a violent sport. What can be done to reduce injury.
A: Many factors have been found to protective, and prevent injury during hockey. The Americal Osteopathic Society has issued these suggests for improving hockey safety.
Education of Hockey personnel of the following high risk activities:
Checking from behind. This act causes 25-50% of spinal injuries.
High-Sticking
Blows to the head
Implementation of the Heads Up Hockey safety program which educates players in important safety factors. For example:
The purpose of checking is to regain puck control-not to injure the opponent
Checking from behind is a dangerous act which may cause paralysis
The most dangerous way to make contact with the board is wight the head down (neck flexed). It is safer to make contact with the neck extended.
Mandatory full face protection at all amateur levels. A minimum of a half-sheild for progessionals.
More research into safety equipment.
Research into rink technology such as safety boards.
Consideration of larger rinks and 4-on-4 plays.
Recognition that checking is an acquired skill that requires teaching and practice.
Coaches to teach clean play as a priority.
Preseason meetings betweeen coaches and medical personnel.
Automatic game suspensions for dangerous rule violations such as:
Checking from behind
Violent stick use
Blows to the head
Fighting