Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-05
Increasing Fatalities
Expecied in Football
For Nexi Two Years

sy Ne Asss<leisd Press
NEW YORK, Jan. s.-Foot-
ball deaths continued TO rise In
1854, and In the opinion Of Or.
Floyd Eastwood Of Los Angeles
state College, the cycle Of In
creasing fatalities Ia the sport
win continue for the next two
years.
DR.. Eastwood's asa annual
report to the American Football
Coaches Association last night
showed IS deaths last season
the highest total since 1919 and
almost I per cent above the
average In the 23 years the rec
ords have been kept. It was
the second straight season
deaths have increased. In the
sport.
The report, which prompted
DR.. Eastwood's committee to
make its strongest recommends
tions since undertaking. the study
in 1891. indicated that faulty
equipment was q major factor
in the deaths rather than the
increased physical strain Of one
platoon football.
In fact, most Of last seasons
Is fatalities occurred In high
school football--which has re-
tanned the two-platoon system
dropped by college football two
seasons ago.
Seven Recommendation.
The report listed 10 deaths di-
rectly attributable to the sport.
Most Of the other six fatalities
were laid to heart conditions. not
originating In football play,
The recommendations made to
the AFCA board Of trustees:
/. That every football player
be required to take q complete
physical examination before the
season starts and at mid-season.
q. That no boy with q history
Of heart abnormalities be all
lowed to play.
8. That every conclusion be
X-rayed Immediately.
4. That every serious concus-
sion be studied with an anceph-
alogram Ca laboratory examina-
ton Of the brain).
5. That players suffering Sc
rious conclusions be barred from
further play.
s. That no institution be al.
lowed to play o football game
unless q physician is on duty on
the field.
Z. That continued and increas-
ing emphasis On tackling and
blocking practice be maintained
throughout the season.
1853 Total Doubled.
z \ II
High school football, as usual,
suffered the greatest number Of
deaths. But the fact that the
IL fatalities In 1854 doubled the
1853 total was viewed as 'the
most disturbing factor by Or.
Eastwood.
The 1853 figure was one Of the
lowest In the records Of high
school football deaths while the
1854 total has been exceeded In
only four previous years Of the
study.
There were two direct fatalities
in college football. the same
number recorded In 1858: two In
professional or ser1ipro football
and three In unsuperyised or
sandlot ball.
Sixteen Of the 10 direct fatal
tiles Of last season were caused
by blows to the head, and In
many cases, DR.. Eastwood said.
the helmets worn by the victims
had weak or faulty suspension.
The committee has urged i'm
provements In headgear design
since 1912.
In the % years of the study,
defensive play has been proved
the most dangerous. with one
third Of the fatal injuries re-
sulting when q player is making
o tackle. The study also has
shown that the first 5 minutes
q player is In action are the
most dangerous.
There was only one slight de-
parture from past statistics In
1954-the second week Of Sep
TENDER showed the heaviest
death total (5l. Usually the
peak is reached in the second
week Of october.