A lacrosse helmet comprises rigid single-piece shell formed of a suitable material such as polycarbonate or ABS plastic and adapted to receive and protect the head of a wearer. The shell has acclivities integrally formed therein to define features in the shell. A padding system includes crown padding comprising a crown shock absorber associated with an inner crown liner, rear and side padding comprising a lateral padding assembly backed by an inflatable occipital pad, left and right jaw pads, and a front molded pad nested within the front of the helmet shell.

A sports helmet comprises a single-piece plastic shell, an occipital shock absorber attached to the inner surface of the shell in the rear region to at least partially overlie an occipital area of the head, an inflatable occipital pad removably attached to the inner surface of the shell in the rear region and positioned between the inner surface of the shell and the lateral padding assembly to push the occipital shock absorber forward when the occipital pad is inflated. The occipital pad comprises a top sheet and a bottom sheet bonded together, a plurality of inflatable pockets formed in the top sheet and fluidly connected through channels formed in the top sheet, a valve assembly for inflating the plurality of inflatable pockets, the valve assembly bonded to the bottom sheet. The valve assembly extends through a hole in the shell for inflation.

A flip-up helmet with a breathing nose mask includes a body, the front end of which is a hollow portion, and the body having a first side and a second side, the first side being combined with a first cheek lining, the second side being combined with a second cheek lining, the second cheek lining being provided with a first magnetic element, and the front end of the body being installed with a liftable face shield covered over the entire hollow portion; and a breathing nose mask, the first end of which is fixed to the first side of the body, the second end of the breathing nose mask being provided with a second magnetic element for attracting with the first magnetic element, so the second end of the breathing nose mask is movably combined with the second side of the body or away from it.

A protective apparel system is provided that comprises a helmet covering the wearer's head and a gown covering the wearer's body. A protective barrier extends between the helmet and the gown in order to separate an interior space from the exterior space. The helmet may be a reusable rigid helmet with an exterior surface that can be repeatedly disinfected. The helmet may also include an air transmission system.

A firefighter protective hood that protects the coat/helmet/self-contained breathing apparatus facepiece interface area of a user, and a firefighter protective glove that protects the hand and wrist of the user are provided. The firefighter protective hood and glove respectively include a hood-shaped structure and a glove-shape structure. The hood-shaped structure and the glove-shaped structures each include a body-contacting layer made of a fabric of flame-retardant regenerated cellulose fibers. The structure and composition of the body-contacting layer promote comfort of the user and evaporative cooling. Outer layer(s) extend outwardly over the body-contacting layer and act as thermal and mechanical barriers. The combination of such layers allows maintaining relatively high perspiration transmission and evaporation, and substantially good thermal and mechanical properties.