Argument
I enjoyed writing this paper because I love to ski. This article and the next one are important to me because safety when I am skiing is a big deal. I discussed the validity of ski helmets on the market today in respect to the test Consumer Reports put out last ski season. I just wrote for this one and went back and edited it later on. I went to a few different sites to find information to use in this paper along with the information that was provided in the article.
About 23,000 people suffered head injuries in skiing related accidents in 2002. "Ski Helmets: Safety on the Slopes" was written by the highly respected Consumer Reports Magazine, and is in itself a great resource when looking for information on mainstream consumer products. Published in December 2003, "Safety on the Slopes" appeals to skiers and snowboarders alike. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that a
helmet could have prevented or lessened the severity of about forty percent of those injuries. The article in question analyzed fit, price and performance and compiled an overall score to better help the consumer make a more educated guess in choosing a helmet for skiing. Through logic, credibility, and emotions/values/beliefs I believe that "Ski Helmets: Safety on the Slopes" is a great resource when finding the helmet to best fit the individual buyer.
By means of clear logic the reader is drawn in to the importance of helmets in skiing. To the credit of the author they used organization, persuasion, and common sense to outline their points. The best way to present an argument is in an organized solid format. "Safety on the Slopes" opens with the story of 5 year old Eliot Levmore running into a tree while skiing in Co...
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... This article is no exception; safety is implied through the search for a more skier friendly helmet that is not only safe but asks a respectable price.
"Ski Helmets: Safety on the Slopes" is effective in providing information to show the importance of helmets on today's slopes. Out of the three ideas expressed in this article logic contributed most to the argument. Logic worked best in this argument because in a case like this quality is best shown through real world tests. This article is geared towards the safety minded skier and did a good job presenting its ideas.
Being a skier myself of 14 years I was enticed by this argument and would consider purchasing a helmet because of it. Knowing a little of what skiers look for when buying a product I believe that by reading this they will want to look into buying a ski helmet for their next outing on the slopes.
A few winters ago, some friends invited my family and me to go snow skiing at Paoli Peaks, Indiana. I did not know how to snow ski, and I leaped at the thought of trying this new sport. On the first morning we entered the pro shop to rent all the gear and make decisions about whether or not to take lessons or go it alone. We decided to be adventurous and go it alone—no lessons. Kent and Celeste, the friends who invited us, knew how to ski and snowboard. He assured us that he could show us the basics, and we would be on our way down the slopes. All of us, after a few minutes learning how to wedge our skis started down the family trail. Although the family trail had smaller hills and appeared safe, to me it seemed way
Helmets drastically reduce the tremendous number of deaths caused by head injuries as well as reducing the severity of any ...
Wearing headgear has many positives, reducing injuries is the most obvious one and it could be argued that its help reduces the chance of injuries and even death. At an elite level, Chelsea goalkeeper, Petr Cech is convinced that wearing headgear saved him from suffering extended injuries after colliding with Fulham striker Orlando Sa back in September 2011. Headgear offers a form of padding when worn. It allows juniors and elite athlete’s the reduced chance of head wounds. By this it means it allows for less “cracked skulls”, scars, wounds and so on. It gives a stronger protection on the softer part of the skull which is more prone to damage...
In the late nineteenth century known as the Gilded Age (or the Reconstruction period) and the early twentieth century known as the Progressive era, the nation went through great economic growth and social change. Beginning from the 1870s, there was rapid growth in innovations and big businesses. This could be because there was population growth and when there is population growth, there is a high demand of products and other necessities in order to strive in society. Many immigrants from Europe, mostly from the eastern and southern Europe, and Asia moved to American cities. Additionally, farmers from rural America desired to increase economically in society and since corporations ruled and political problems occurred, they decided to move into the cities. Afterwards, the 1900s started with the dominance of progressivism which many Americans tried to improve and solve the problems that were caused or had arisen because of the industrialization of the Gilded Age. It was basically the time when progressives fought for legislations like regulation of big businesses, end of the political corruption, and protection of the rights of the people: the poor, immigrants, workers, and consumers. Thus, between the periods 1870 to 1920, big businesses had arisen and taken control of the political and economic systems through corruption and innovations. In response, American citizens reacted negatively and formed labor unions and political systems to diminish the power that large corporations had in America.
Viano, David C., and David Halstead. "Change in Size and Impact Performance of Football Helmets
From 1865 to 1900, technology transformed the United States during the period known as the Gilded Age. During this time, the lives of the American people ultimately changed, for many Americans, including farmers, were able to share better food, yield more land, and help contribute to the overall standard of living. However, in order to attain a profit, farmers had the precarious responsibility of gathering the essential tools and crops to meet the nation’s demands. As a result, more raw materials, such as wood were being consumed in factories. In order to uphold the continuum of the vast growing nation, there was a demand for faster and easier means of transportation. Additionally, many foreigners sought America to be a very superior and prosperous land. The foreigners were men and women from various nations, also known as the Go-Getters, found new ways of living and vast amount of opportunities. Coined by Mark Twain, the Gilded Age became a symbol of America, as it expressed a false image of prosperity from the outside, but truly held an underlying corrupt background. Technology transformed the United States during the Gilded Age by the changing of American labor force, benefits of new inventions, developments in communication and transportation, and through great hardship and wealth.
This study was completed using 52 Bantam and Midget hockey players, 13-14 years of age and 15-16 years of age respectively [5]. Players were required to were instrumented helmets for the duration of two seasons where data was captured for 12,253 head impacts. The system used to instrument the helmets was the HIT system, which uses an on-board algorithm to create the Head Impact Technology severity profile (HITsp) [5]. Data was collected for acceleration values, player position, event type, and head impact location. Six-single axis accelerometers, a battery pack, and the telemetry instrumentation was attached to either a Reebok RBK 6K, 8K, or Easton Stealth S9 hockey helmet which was checked for proper fit biweekly. All data was time stamped, encoded, stored locally, and transmitted wirelessly to a sideline
In American football, helmets are required to decrease traumatic brain injuries and have been successful in doing so. A large part in the success of helmet design is improvements in technology. The sizes of athletes have gone up to make football more dangerous. To protect against brain injury, helmets designs have changed to become heavier and wider, filled within the space are energy absorbing materials, air space and padding to protect the skull upon impact. Originally, helmets were designed to prevent only traumatic brain injuries, but technology is advancing to fill the gap of concussions. Until recently, the seriousness of concussions were not considered part of the equation that needed to be addressed, so manufactures did not utilized in constructing helmets to address this issue (Post et al. 653). Upon predicting risk of concussions in tests, by themselves linear and rotational acceleration are not suitable measurements for modern helmets. These testing measurements do not address the rotational forces and minor hits to the brain which are associated with concussions (Post et al. 654). Given the seriousness of concussions in contact sports, more attention is given to prevent and reduce concussions through testing methods and advancing technology, stronger regulation and changes to the sport. As stated in the article involving the National Football League (NFL), “The risk involved in playing sports are also very real. The NFL is struggling with serious mental and physical health problems because they sustained repeated mild traumatic brain injuries, is what concussions are called. (“Concussions and Marketing of Sports Equipment” 6).
One of the most important achievements of the Gilded Age was the creation of a network of railroads including the transcontinental railroad, which connected the United States from New York to California, facilitating transportation across the continent. During the Gilded Age the length of all the railroads combined increased threefold ("Second Industrial Revolution"). This was significant not only because it decreased travel time from the eastern to western parts of the U.S and vice versa down from months to weeks and allowed people to settle the central United States, but also opened new areas for commercial farming and gave an economic boost to steel...
industrialization. It is hard to factor all of those periods into once period such as the 1800’s as a whole.
Across numerous sports in the world, helmets are a staple of safety. Assumed to be a benefit, most athletes do not consider the risks of a helmet; both mental and physical risks. Society tells us that no matter what; a helmet will be safer than being exposed to harmful elements. There is also the idea that helmets are beneficial, but the way athletes use them causes more injuries than if a helmet had not been used at all. This culture, using your helmet as a tool, encourages more risky behavior for helmet wearers. Adventure writer and pilot, Lane Wallace argues that football culture is to blame for current helmet use, and that helmets are beneficial in her article “Do Sports Helmets Help or Hurt?” In his article “Disposable Heroes”, Neurologist David Weisman reasons that the worst helmets might be a better solution than better helmets.
Have you ever known somebody who was injured in a car accident? What do you think his attitude about seat belts was after they saved his life? If you knew that a seat belt would save your life, you would buckle up! It took years of legislation and public awareness campaigns to make seat belt use mandatory. Now a new topic regarding public safety is coming to light: people are dying or becoming seriously injured in seemingly minor accidents on bicycles when the rider's head strikes the concrete. When the head is unprotected "the brain continues to move in a forward motion while the skull stops moving" (Macyko1), causing trauma. What is needed is a way to protect the brain "by absorbing the energy from the impact, buying extra time for the brain to slow down" (Macyko1). Bicycle riders need to wear helmets to protect their brains from injury, yet unfortunately the public is simply not aware of this need and many people will continue to die or be seriously injured unless something is done. Bicycle helmets save lives and should be required by Arizona State law for riders of all ages.
Many reasons for this big change in sports related head injuries, mostly has to do with the protective equipment used and the regulation...
Thin air encompasses me as I commence the final day of skiing at Vail, Colorado. Seven days of skiing elapse rather painlessly; I fall occasionally but an evening in the Jacuzzi soothes my minor aches. Closing time approaches on the final day of our trip as I prepare myself for the final run of the vacation. Fresh off the ski lift, I coast toward the junction of trails on the unoccupied expert face of the mountain. After a moment of thought, I confidently select a narrow trail so steep that only the entrance can be seen from my viewpoint.
Since the beginning of cycling there have been head injuries. Head injuries increased as more roads were being paved. The materials used to pave the roads are macadam and asphalt and they are unforgiving when it comes to crashes. During the 1800’s high wheeler users in clubs started wearing pitch helmets, they noticed that head injuries were becoming a problem. A helmet made of crushable material such as Pith was likely the best option at the time. When impacting the ground the material would break, but there was fewer cars, roads and competitions back then, therefore it was designed for a single impact. At the turn of the century many Racing Cyclist began using “Helmets” made of leather-covered padding, initially with a ring of leather around the head and a wool ring above that. Soon enough the style had changed, the ring of leather around the head was supplemented by...