Chest protectors for reducing risk of commotio cordis

A chest protector comprising:

• one or more panels configured to generally conform to at least a portion of a user's anterior torso region;
• one or more retention elements connected to the one or more panels and positioned to hold the chest protector on the user;
• a base assembly positioned to coextend with a region of a user's chest that includes the user's cardiac silhouette;
• a pivot plate assembly comprising two pivot plate portions oriented at an angle relative to each other;
• and
• a fulcrum block positioned between the pivot plate assembly and the base assembly;
• wherein
• the pivot plate assembly is positioned to pivot on the fulcrum block.

A chest protector comprising:

• a base assembly;
• a pivot plate assembly comprising a polymer board element bent along an axis, the pivot plate assembly being flexible about the axis;
• and
• a fulcrum block positioned between the pivot plate assembly and the base assembly;
• wherein
• the pivot plate assembly is positioned to pivot on the fulcrum block.