Purdue and Jeff High School teaming up

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Purdue University and Jeff High School are teaming up to reduce sports-related injuries.  Purdue researchers and Jeff High School football players are working together on a helmet safety study.  Biomedical Engineering Associate Professor Tom Talavage said researchers will study the impact of hits on players, as well as and preand post-concussion data.
He said that research could help prevent injuries on the field.
Each player received an M.R.I. prior to the study, and if a student gets a concussion they will be checked out once again.  Talavage said researchers will study the high school players over the next several years.
 

"What's exciting to us it to be doing this at the high school level, where you are still dealing with individuals whose brains are developing, whose bodies are maturing still.  Anything we can do at this stage to prevent these types of injuries, especially long term consequences is a big plus," said Talavage.

 Six sensors were installed in 25 players' helmets in order to prevent future sports related injuries.  The sensors in the helmets calculate the impact of each hit. Jeff Football player Curtis Vice had a concussion in the past, he said he's glad to be part of the study.
 

"They kind of put a little pressure on the head, but I'm happy we have them, because I had a concussion last year and I dont really want to get another one.   I couldn't remember anything, just blacked out fell down," said Vice.
 

Head Coach Andy Kennedy says Jeff High School is the first in the state to take part in such a project.  He said he's excited to see the results of the study.
 

"If Jeff Smith gets hit hard, how does he react the next 3 plays.  Does he still function after registering a big hit or does it take him a few plays to kind of shake the cobwebs off and keep going," said Kennedy.
 

The cost for the study is $170,000 and it's being funded by the Indiana State Department of Health and General Electric Healthcare.