CPSC Releases Study of Protective Equipment for Baseball

""We want kids outside in the sunshine, not inside in an emergency room,"" said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that safety equipment for baseball could significantly reduce the amount and severity of 58,000 (or almost 36 percent of) baseball-related injuries to children each year.

Baseball, softball, and teeball are among the most popular sports in the United States, with an estimated 6 million children ages 5 to 14 participating in organized leagues and 13 million children participating in non-league play. In 1995, hospital emergency rooms treated 162,100 children for baseball-related injuries.

At a press conference at Camden Yards stadium, home of the Baltimore Orioles, CPSC released the findings from its one-year study on the ability of protective equipment, including softer-than-standard baseballs, safety release bases, and batting helmets with face guards, to reduce injuries to children playing baseball.

"CPSC is the federal agency responsible for overseeing the safety of 15,000 different types of consumer products, including sports equipment and products claiming to reduce injuries and increase safety," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. "Parents need to know what options they have in protective equipment so they can make the best decisions for their children playing baseball."

Nick Senter, executive director of the Dixie Baseball League, an organization based in 11 Southern states, and Richard Bancells, trainer of the Baltimore Oriole's baseball team, joined Chairman Brown for today's announcement.

Senter said, "Since we began using batting helmets with face guards in the Dixie League, we've seen a drop in both injury rates and insurance rates."

CPSC collected and analyzed data on baseball, softball, and teeball-related deaths and injuries to children to determine specifically how these children were injured and what safety equipment could prevent such injuries. CPSC also studied voluntary safety standards and reviewed published scientific literature evaluating currently available protective equipment.

CPSC analyzed the 88 reports it received of baseball-related deaths of children between 1973 and 1995. It found that 68 of the deaths were caused by ball impact and 13 were caused by bat impact. Of the 68 ball impact deaths, 38 resulted from blows to the chest while 21 deaths were caused by a ball hitting a player's head.

Of the 162,100 hospital emergency-room-treated injuries in 1995, most of the injuries (almost 75 percent) occurred to older children ages 10 to 14. This age group represents about half of the total number of children playing baseball.

Of the total number of injuries to children, CPSC considers about 33 percent severe, including fractures, concussions, internal injuries, and dental injuries. The remaining 67 percent less severe injuries include contusions, abrasions, lacerations, strains, and sprains. More than 50 percent of the children under age 11 who were injured while playing baseball sustained injuries to the head and neck area, while a larger percentage of older children sustained injuries to their arms and legs.

Based on its analyses, CPSC found that three pieces of safety equipment will help reduce injuries.

Softer-than-standard baseballs and softballs, which have a softer, spongier core than standard baseballs and softballs, can reduce ball impact injuries. Face guards that attach to batting helmets and protect the face can reduce injuries to batters.

Safety bases that release from their anchor can reduce sliding injuries. Safety release bases that are based on age, gender, and skill levels of the players provide the best protection.

Conclusions from the CPSC Study:

-- Baseball protective equipment currently on the market may prevent, reduce, or lessen the severity of more than 58,000 injuries or almost 36 percent an estimated 162,100 hospital emergency-room-treated, baseball-related injuries occurring to children each year.

-- Softer-than-standard balls may prevent, reduce, or lessen the severity of the 47,900 ball impact injuries to the head and neck.

-- Batting helmets with face guards may prevent, reduce, or lessen the severity of about 3,900 facial injuries occurring to batters in organized play.

-- Safety release bases that leave no holes in the ground or parts of the base sticking up from the ground when the base is released may prevent, reduce, or lessen the severity of the 6,600 base-contact sliding injuries occurring in organized play.