Football Fatalities and Catastrophic Injuries, 1931-2008

Ever since the first collegiate football game on November 6, 1869, the need to reduce injuries has played a major role in finding ways to improve the safety of the sport through rule and equipment changes. This study looks at the history of football injuries by decade and critically analyzes important circumstances in football relating to fatalities and catastrophic injuries (equipment, rules, coaching, medical care, etc.). Attention is also given to the history of brain and spinal injuries as well as heart-related and heat stroke fatalities and how their detection and treatment has changed during the past 75 years. A chapter discusses the history of NOCSAE and its effect on helmet standards and a chapter by Herb Appenzeller discusses risk management in football programs.