(A920) Evaluating the Impact of 'Heads up Football' Campaign on Pediatric Football-Related Head and Neck Injuries

Introduction: The head and neck are among the most frequently injured areas in children. Launched in 2012, the "Heads Up Football" campaign aimed to improve player safety in youth and high school football by promoting better tackling techniques, proper equipment fitting, and safety education. While its impact on reducing concussion rates has been studied, its effect on head and neck injuries is less clear. This study evaluates the relationship between Heads Up Football training and the incidence of head and neck injuries, providing broader insights into the program's safety benefits.

Methods: Data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was analyzed from 2004–2023 in a retrospective analysis. Head and neck injuries were defined as avulsion, contusion, abrasion, crushing, fracture, hematoma, hemorrhage, laceration, or nerve damage affecting the head, face, and mouth. Injuries were limited to those sustained during football play in children aged 5–18 years. Injury rates from 2004–2012 and 2013–2023 were compared using a t-test.

Results: From 2004–2012, there were 182,071 injuries (mean = 22,759/year), while from 2013–2023 (excluding 2020), there were 191,499 injuries (mean = 17,409/year), representing a significant decrease in injury rates (p = 0.0000684). The highest injury year was 2006 (25,417 injuries), and the lowest (excluding 2020) was 2018 (11,385 injuries). The 2020 data (5,589 injuries) was excluded as a potential outlier due to COVID. Most regions analyzed showed a consistent decline, with the face being the most commonly injured site.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that the Heads Up Football campaign contributed to reducing pediatric football-related head and neck injuries. This highlights the importance of safety interventions in sports and underscores the value of continued education and enforcement of injury prevention measures for young athletes.