Earlier this month, we discussed in another blog that in the month of September, three high school football players have died from injuries sustained while playing on the field. One of those students was a star quarterback from New Jersey. See NJ High School Football-Sports & Traumatic Brain InjurySince then, 2 more high school players have died after suffering injuries during a football game, bringing the total number of deaths to 5 since September. Last Friday, a high school football player in Illinois died after suffering injuries during a game on Thursday night. The 17 year old senior hit his head during the final play of the game. He was able to walk off the field after the hit but later collapsed. The 17 year old was the seventh high school football player to die this year nationwide. According to reports, the 17 year old died of "blunt force head injuries due to a football accident."A survey conducted by the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research (NCCSIR) at the University of North Carolina found that there are about 1.1 million high school football players in the nation, and about 100,000 in the NFL, college, junior college, arena and semiprofessional level. Yet, according a study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, high school football players suffer three times as many catastrophic injuries as college players. Such injuries include permanent disability, neck fractures, head injuries and even death.Researchers say that part of the reason there are more deaths among high school football players is the fact that developing brains of high school athletes are more vulnerable to catastrophic head injuries. In addition, high school players do not possess the skills of professional and collegiate football players, leaving them more susceptible to serious injuries.About Daniel J. O'Brien - A PA & NJ Sports Injury & Traumatic Brain Injury LawyerDaniel J. O'Brien has been an injury lawyer for 30 years. He is also a life-long athlete who understands sports injuries and how to help injured athletes who suffer traumatic brain injuries and other sport related injuries. If you have questions about a sports accident in PA or NJ, call Mr. O'Brien to schedule a FREE consultation. 877.944.8396Sources:www.fox2now.com (High school football player dies after suffering head injuries during game)https://nccsir.unc.edu/files/2013/10/Annual-Football-2014-Fatalities-Final.pdf (Annual Survey of Football Injury Research)
