Perceived effectiveness of football helmet warning labels

The relative importance of warning components (signal word, instructions, consequences) was assessed with respect to the perceived effectiveness of the football helmet warning label created by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE). We also investigated whether the addition of a hazard statement or a graphic symbol portraying improper helmet use would increase the NOCSAE label's perceived effectiveness. Football players (N = 484) rated one of six versions of the label: (a) the original NOCSAE label; labels with deleted (b) signal word, (c) instructions, or (d) consequences; and labels with an added (e) hazard statement, or (f) symbol. Contrary to our hypotheses, deletion of the signal word, instructions, or consequences failed to decrease the label's perceived effectiveness. However addition of the hazard statement and symbol significantly increased perceived effectiveness. Implications for NOCSAE label design and future research are discussed.