Parachutist neck injury risk associated with head-borne mass

McEntire, B. Joseph; Alem, Nabih; Brozoski, Frederick T.

Affiliations

¹Aircrew Protection Division, USAARL

Abstract

Parachutists are at risk of neck injury. While helmets provide important protection, they also increase the weight supported by the neck potentially increasing the risk of neck injury. The addition of further weight, in the form of helmet-mounted devices, may worsen the risk We were asked to assess the injury riskpresented by one such device, the Individual Combat Identification System (ICIDS). A study was conducted with an instrumented manikin to measure and record transmitted neck loads during parachute opening while wearing the ICIDS attached to the standard US. Army paratrooper helmet. The ICIDS was recommended for clearanceforfollow-on user testing by the Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate.

Links

URL: http://cdm15290.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15290coll3/id/933

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