oO NR NNT \ mim rr aw mY Shaq rT Plastics Help Gridiron Gladiators CNAPS)—Imagine 240 pounds of solid lineman coming at youat a rate of five miles per hour. The actual force on your bodyis equivalent te 1,820 pounds of force per second—a hit from a ton of bricks. That’s a regular occurrence for professional football players. Players tolerate these bone-crushing blows with the help of equipment innovations made possible byplastic. Ninety-five percent of football gear is made of plastic. Fromhelmets and protective gear on the field, to safety devices on the sidelines, plastics help keep our gridiron gladiators safer. Heimets Helmets were once made of leather or wood, and were dull, hot and heavy. Today’s version is made of a tough, weather-resistant pelycarbonate exterior and soft foamor air-filled cushioning. The polyurethane or polypropylene cushioning offers superior protection against head, brain and facial injuries. A polycarbonate or vinyl chin strap helps keep he helmet secure through tough tackles, and many players also opt to wear a tinted polycarbonate visor to help them see more clearly under the glaring lights or sun. The polycarbonate helmet, in addition to providing impact protection, also comes in bright, reflective molded-in color—allowing players to easily identify each other from more than 106 yards away, whether it’s a day or night game. Protective Gear Knee and thigh pads constructed of EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate), polyethylene or polypropylene, are built to withstand 300 pounds per square inch. The hulking shoulder pads are mainiy Plastic meuthguards have become an important safety feature across all sports, including football. Mouthguards help protect the mouth, teeth, lips, cheeks and tongue against harsh impacts— whether from a ball, fist or a jar- ring tackle. Mouthguards also are believed to he effective in reducing concussion risk due to elevated jawinjuryafter blows to the chin. Mouthguards are usually created from EVA, which allows for the guard to be molded te the mouth for the ultimate in comfort and protection, An important piece of protec- tive gear for football players, the quarterback in particular, is a rib protector worn underneath the jersey. The rib protector is hightweight padding that protects against rib damage from those tough hits. Constructed frompolyethylene with foam padding, it will not absorb sweat or water, and is helpful in protecting players with rib or side injuries. Gn the Sidelines Medical and physical trainers rely on manyplastic medical devices to keep players safe. These inchide adhesive tape and bandages, cervical collars, splints, pebyurethaneor polyethylene foam, with a hard HDPE High Density Polyethylene) shell. HDPE, the same type of plastic used in milk and detergent bottles, is durable and a first aid kit containing reds wrapped in plastic to maintain sterility. Plastics help keep players safer week after week, allowing fans to helps protect players’ shoulders and collarbones, while providing comfort and range of motion. players. On the sidelines or on the field, plastics have becorne footballs most valuable player. aud lightweight. This combination continue to cheer for their favorite
