AUSTIN -- In Texas, where high school football is king, some lawmakers say it's time for Texans to use their heads when it comes to protecting students' heads.Texas House members gave early approval Tuesday to a measure that will retire public school football helmets after they're 16 years old and make sure that helmets 10 years or older are reconditioned every two years. "This is to prevent severe and long-term effects of concussions," said state Rep. Eddie Lucio III, D-Brownsville, who carried a football helmet with him during the bill discussion. "There's a lot of danger out there. This is basic minimum standards, like putting your seat belt on."
The measure still needs final approval from the House, which could come as soon as today. It would require school districts to keep records on how old helmets are and when they are repaired. Supporters say as many as 67,000 high school students suffer concussions from playing football each year.
Some heal quickly, while others take months to recover, Lucio said. "The biggest problem isn't the first concussion but the second one," he said. Many helmets used by Texas high schoolers are several years old because new ones can cost as much as $300 or more.
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