HotHead Football Helmet: Will Prevent Football Players from Overheating

Football is becoming a more competitive sport every year. Many attribute this to athletes becoming bigger and stronger through increased workouts. These workouts take place throughout the year, with many of the most grueling taking place during the hot summer heat. This has resulted in dozens of athletes overheating and some of them dying from this cause. Companies have been working hard to create a solution to this problem. Perhaps the best prevention comes in the form of the new Hothead helmet, the world's first helmet that monitors the temperatures of a football player.

Hothead Technologies is a company located in Atlanta, Georgia. They have created a new type of football helmet that will save lives. The helmet incorporates what they call Heat Observation Technology. It is a complex system that uses an electric thermometer known as a thermistor. This is a spoon sized device made up of metals. The devices metals have a electrical resistance that can vary with the temperature. Basically, the device is placed under the pads of the helmet and measures the temperatures inside the helmet.

The Heat Observation Technology will measure temperatures ranging from 99.9 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Experts have learned that basic heat illness begins at a temperature of 104 degrees. The temperatures will be monitored by the device and sent to a special device that coaches will be able to watch. Coaches will then make the smart move and relax athletes who approach these dangerous heat levels. A life might be saved in the process as well.

Industry experts consider rectal thermometers to be the most accurate way to get a temperature. However, Hothead's new technology has proven to be just as accurate if not better. This is what makes the invention of this new helmet so amazing. The company is also doing the right thing by first negotiating the technology with major helmet companies and the National Football League (NFL). They hope to charge a $50 activation charge for every player who uses their helmet, plus an additional $100 annul fee from for use of the monitoring service (for the coaches).

Hothead has already sold 10,000 of these helmets to the major helmet companies. However, the demand will result in the company having to make an additional 500,000 for the upcoming year. This is because the demand is sure to skyrocket amongst high school and college football teams. My review of this product is that it will save the lives of many football players and is the true future of football safety.

Sources:

Hot Head Technologies, www.hotheadtechnologies.com, 2010