The new-concept full-face-type helmet with removable cheek pads.
BACKGROUND
The American College of Surgeons proposed a method of removing helmets. But the problem with full-face-type helmets is that their shape makes them difficult to remove.


METHODS
A dummy doll was fixed to a smooth bed surface in the supine position, and a full-face-type helmet with a hook attached to the vertex was placed on the doll's head. A spring balance was attached to the hook, traction was applied to the helmet through the spring balance, and the maximum tension needed to completely remove the helmet was measured.


RESULTS
A tension of 13.2 +/- 1.8 kg was found. But when cheek pads were removed, the tension required to remove the helmet was 1.7 +/- 0.2 kg.


CONCLUSIONS
We devised a full-face-type helmet that uses removable cheek pads so that helmet removal can be performed safely by removing only the cheek pads in the event of an accident.
Department of Traumatology and Critical Care Medicine, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. mabu@mvg.biglobe.ne.jp
M
M
Nemoto
M
M
Shida
A
A
Ichimura
I
I
Nakajima
S
S
Inokuchi
Y
Y
Sawada
D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008348:Manikins; D009068:Movement; D011859:Radiography; D014143:Traction; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control