Cricket equipment � headgear is vital

The helmet is a vital piece of cricket equipment

A vital piece of cricket equipment

The England and Wales Cricket Board recommends that a helmet with a faceguard is a vital piece of cricket equipment to be worn by anybody up to the age of 18 batting against a cricket ball. Even if you're not batting against fast bowlers, a helmet will protect you against an accidental full toss or a top-edged sweep or pull shot. Make sure the faceguard is properly adjusted so the ball can't pass beyond the space between the grill and the peak of the helmet. Make sure the helmet is securely held in place by the chin strap as you'll be given out if your helmet comes off and hits the stumps.

The dangers of not wearing a helmet

If you ignore the advice and don't wear this vital piece of cricket equipment you are in danger of sustaining a head injury. Minor head injuries may cause headache, bruising, swelling and cuts, which may bleed profusely, even if small.

The following symptoms may occur soon after the head injury or hours or days later if the injury is more severe:

• headache with nausea and vomiting
• blurred or double vision
• slurred speech
• confusion or drowsiness
• loss of consciousness
• blood or clear fluid from the ears or nose

Head injuries can cause skull fractures and damage to the brain that may be permanent, so make sure that the helmet is part of your cricket equipment.

Treatment

Although most head injuries are minor, around 1 million people each year in the UK need to attend casualty as a result of suffering a head injury. Around one in four of these need to be admitted to hospital. Wearing protective head gear as part of your cricket equipment could save you from becoming part of that statistic

Treatment of a head injury depends on its type and severity. It may involve:

• observation at home or in hospital
• first-aid treatment, for example stitching of wounds
• medication such as painkillers, corticosteroids and antibiotics
• If brain damage has occurred, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and emotional support may be needed.

All head injuries are potentially serious

All head injuries are potentially serious and require proper assessment because they can result in impaired consciousness. Injuries may be associated with damage to the brain tissue or to blood vessels inside the skull, or with a skull fracture. A head injury may produce concussion, which is a brief period of unconsciousness followed by complete recovery. Some head injuries may produce compression of the brain (cerebral compression), which is life-threatening. If you neglect to wear a helmet as part of your cricket equipment, your life could be at risk.

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