By Lynne Adkins

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A former Flyer, whose career was cut short by concussions, is working to keep young players safe.

Keith Primeau is working to get out the word on the Impact Indicator, which helps coaches and trainers see when a hockey player sustains a significant hit to the head. Starting today, the former Flyer’s minor league team will be sporting the chin straps.

(Credit: Impact Indicator)

“Although it’s a chin strap it’s attached to the athlete’s head and you don’t need to get hit in the chin or head for it to register it can actually be a hit to the body that causes movement in the head,” says Chris Circo, whose company makes the device.

He says a light on the strap glows green when everything is ok, but if a hit is bad enough, it will flash red, indicating that the player needs to be sidelined.

“When it’s on it’s a steady green and everything’s ok and it flashes red when the athlete has crossed into that threshold.”

Primeau and Circo both suffered many concussions and continue to suffer the effects.